Grower East 10.12

Eastern Edition n

Section One of Two

October 2012

GROWER

Volume e 21 Number r 10

$2.50

Serving All Aspects of Commercial Horticulture

Greenhouse • Nursery • Garden Center • Fruit & Vegetable • Farm Markets • Landscapers • Christmas

Personalized d customer contactt helpss Paulus Orchardss market ~ Page e A2 successfully~

Today’ss Marketing g A5 Buyer’ss Guide Christmas Classifieds

A6 B1 B18

Inserts (in some areas) Growerr Marketplace Musserr Forests e Promotions Produce

Harnessing the best potential for roadside signs ~ Page A18

October 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • Section A - Page 2

Personalized customer contact helps Paulus Orchards market successfully

by Sally Colby When Dan and Karen Paulus purchased an existing orchard in 1999, the apples grown there were mostly for processing. Although the majority of the apples grown on 100 acres are still sent to two local fruit processors, the family also offers u-pick apples, peaches and blueberries.

“We push trees out every year,” said Karen. “The new trees are on trellises. We have golds, reds, Jonathan, Jonagold, Cameo, Fuji and McIntosh. Any apple that’s going to be picked in September and October will be in the u-pick section.”

Karen didn’t grow up on a farm, so she understands that customers have questions about which apples are in season. She’s also ready to field questions about production, and explains that practices such as pheromone disrupters help them reduce the amount of sprays used. “People don’t necessarily ask specific questions about fruit growing, but want to serve their families the healthiest food possible,” she said. “They just want to know what they’re getting.”

For u-pick, customers purchase either a peck or halfbushel size bag, then go to the orchard and fill the bag. “Some people get just a peck size bag; others will get four half bushels,” said Karen. “We see some customers just about every weekend because varieties change, and they just enjoy picking.” In the orchard, tree rows are marked with apple variety and traits to help customers choose what’s right for them.

The Pauluses’ on-farm mar-

A young visitor to Paulus Orchards enjoys trying one of several stationary tractors at the farm.

Photos by Sally Colby ket includes fresh fruits, local produce and gift items. An onsite kitchen allows them to make soups, sandwiches, dumplings and pies for direct sale, and customers can take cooking and canning classes in the kitchen.

Karen says the farm’s weekly e-mail newsletter has been the best form of marketing they’ve used. “In the newsletter, we tell them what’s coming up for upick, and most newsletters include a recipe,” she said. “I

The spacious farm market offers freshly picked apples and other seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as seasonal gift items.

use humor - funny stories and people relate to that. At the farm, people come up to me and tell me that they feel as if they know me.” Karen says the newsletter isn’t so much about talking about the product, but more about the experience customers will have when they visit the farm.

To sharpen her marketing skills, Karen uses Bob Negen’s WhizBang! online training. “It includes people from all over the United States who are marketing for one thing or another,” she explained. “They may not be selling apples, but they’re dealing with some of the same issues I’m dealing with.”

One of the tips Karen employs is Negen’s six-box system. This customer -friendly, rewards/thank you program is simple and easy for both customers and market store personnel to use. New customers can fill out a 3 x 5 card with their name and address, and the card is kept on file at the market. “On the index card, we draw one line across and two lines down to make six boxes, and record their purchases” said Karen. “After the card is filled, we add up how much they’ve spent, and give them a discount based on that amount.”

At check out, customers present their card to the cashier, who explains the benefits of being on the farm’s email list. “We pay the cashiers a

bonus for each e-mail address they get,” said Karen. “That encourages the cashier to ask for the email. If it’s a new customer, we mail them two, $3 gift certificates - one is for them, and another to share with a friend. The goal is to get another customer.” Gift certificates don’t expire and can be used on anything including outdoor activities.

Cards remain in the store, and are marked after the customer is on the e-mail list so that cashiers don’t have to

explain the program repeatedly. Karen says the act of customers presenting their cards at check out creates a more personal relationship between the cashier and the customer.

“It builds customer loyalty,” said Karen. They want to come back to get the discount. The cashiers begin to recognize faces and can address people by name.”

Karen says because they operate seasonally through February, the rewards program helps drive business in months when business would be slow.

“People know that if they need to come two or three more times to get the discount, they’ll come in January and February,” she said. “It’s a cost (to mail gift certificates), but it’s well worth it. Some people will use several cards each season.”

The email list currently includes about 4,000 addresses. Customers can also sign up through the farm’s website.

The orchard has a Facebook page that Karen uses to update customers on what’s in season.

Right now customers who visit Paulus Orchards are enjoying the corn maze, u-pick pumpkins and apples, and a spacious playground that includes pedal cars and a track. Children have fun climbing in the ‘applecratorium’, a creation that the Pauluses came up with, as well as a small-scale log cabin that children can work on then play in.

The play area also includes a field of scarecrows with a box of flannel shirts and overalls for dress-the-scarecrow fun. The play area is available for birthday parties and other events throughout the season.

Visit Paulus Orchards online at www.paulusorchards.com

The play area at Paulus Orchards is an integral part of the marketing program, and includes this unique 'applecratetorium' constructed with apple crates.

by Sanne Kure-Jensen Institutions like hospitals, universities, colleges and other wholesale accounts want to bring fresh products to their staff, patients and students.

Farms with food safety certifications are chosen as suppliers to reduce the buyers’ liability. Your farm can be competitive in this wholesale market by seeking and maintaining food safety certification.

Growers and producers in Massachusetts have at least two certifications available to help them market their produce, forestry, lobster and aquaculture products: Commonwealth Quality Program (CQP) from the MA Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Certification from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Customers know that CQP certified food is Massachusetts grown, harvested and processed following the highest food safety standards, best management practices and environmental standards. The results are fresh, great tasting and nutritious foods as well as sustainably grown and harvested products!

Michael Anthony Botelho, Commonwealth Quality Program Coordinator, MDAR said the US Food Safety Directive of the mid-80s started the transition into a national GAP certification program.

New national GAP standards coming Revised standards are being developed under GAP Harmonized that will set slightly different standards for growers of various crop categories.

Crops have different contamination risks and some growers have struggled with a uniform standard for all crops.

Potatoes are generally cooked, oranges are peeled, corn is husked, cucumbers are pickled and lettuce is eaten raw.

Under GAP Harmonized, buyers will be able to set their own food safety standards.

Extension agents were trained in these new standards starting last June. Botelho expects that the current all-crop GAP standards will be phased into GAP Harmonized within two to four years.

Commonwealth Quality Program In Massachusetts, the CQP requires local growers to use Best Management Practices (BMP) and to follow specific crop standards. Benefits of locally grown CQP products include: 1.

The CQP “Local” sticker and labeling campaign is voluntary. Some are concerned that there needs to by verification of “local” growing to prevent farmers market vendors from selling produce from outside their farm, county and state.

2.

“Sustainability” will be defined by each industry or sector. The UMASS Extension can offer BMPs for each crop based upon the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and good nutrient management practices which can be verified through plant tissue and soil studies.

3.

Food Safety standards help

protect consumers and are required by a growing number of retail buyers including Hannaford’s, Stop & Shop, Shaw’s, and Wegman’s.

4.

USDA regulation offers buyers and consumers “locally grown” and “locally verified” products.

In Massachusetts, about 90 of the state’s 7,700 farms are already GAP or CQP certified or are pending certification.

More applications are received weekly.

Benefits and challenges of CQP Certification To help certified growers market and distinguish their products, the MDAR will offer stickers, brochure and rack card templates, electronic logos and QR codes starting in summer 2012.

Materials will educate consumers about the comprehensive CQP program requirements as well as federal, state and local regulations. Certified growers may mark their produce, dairy, seafood or lumber products at farm stands, farmers’ market booths and/or retail locations.

The CQP application fee of $50 goes right back to farmers as marketing efforts coordinated by the New England Vegetable & Fruit Growers Association. USDA GAP audits by MDAR staff cost $92 per hour. GAP audits by independent auditing firms cost $150 per hour and include travel time, often from as far away as New Jersey. Farms generally have one

planned and one surprise audit each year.

Many farms find Traceback and Farm Plan recordkeeping an extra burden. Others find they are already tracking this data anyway and make small adjustments to their recordkeeping systems.

Upgrading farm facilities and practices Depending on a farm’s infrastructure, farm practices and packing system, getting food safety certified may mean equipment expenses, retraining staff and updating farm practices.

Lubricants must be converted to food grade products. Leaking hydraulic lines or fuel tanks must be repaired or replaced. Harvesting tools must be sanitized at least daily. Packing facilities will have to restrict bird and rodent access; lamps will have to be covered to protect workers and food from the risk of broken glass.

Lynn Reading of Billingsgate Farm urged fellow farmers to “go the extra mile for safety.” She said that once a farm implements the steps needed for certification, maintaining the facilities and practices becomes simple and relatively inexpensive. Overall, Reading estimates the farm spent $4,500 to $5,000 on equipment and facility upgrades for their GAP and CQP certifications. Future years’ expenses will be minimal to maintain the certifica-

Michael Botelho coordinates the MA Commonwealth Quality Program (CQP), working with growers and producers across Massachusetts. Lynn Reading said Billingsgate Farm in Bryantville, MA goes the extra mile for customers; they produce “the safest products out there.”

Photo by Sanne Kure-Jensen

tions. She will only need to pay for water and soil tests, an annual application fee and audit visit.

GAP certifiable equipment does not have to be new or expensive. Billings installed used sinks in their packing room for about $300. Local high school shop students built their new packing room tables with laminated tops for easy sanitation. No equipment can be rusty or risk contamination to food.

Old equipment does not have to be replaced; it can be sanded and repainted.

To help keep things fun, Reading issued all the farm staff “new field hats,” also known as a hairnets.

Billingsgate Farm’s staff morale improved and everyone was glad they went through the process. She said, “Billingsgate Farm is willing to go the extra mile for our customers, CSA members, and wholesalers to assure them that we produce the safest products out there.”

Food Safety Requirements GAP and food safety Best Management Practices (BMPs) training is available at UMass.

MA CQP ensures that certified fresh produce is grown and harvested with practices to minimize the risk of food born illness: • Eliminate potential sources and risks of microbial contamination • Educate staff in best practices and monitor worker safety and hygiene to prevent/reduce contamination risk.

• Maintain water sources to limit possible pathogen transport • Manage compost to reduce possible microbial contamination • Restrict wild and domestic animal influence to avoid fecal contamination More information is available on USDA GAPS at http://1.usa.gov/KWYoO1, UMASS Extension Service BMPs at http://bit.ly/KO1acc and MDAR GAP at http://1.usa.gov/KkvgBz. Certification Process After attending GAP training at UMass or MA CQP training from UMass Extension agents, growers should implement food safety BMPs and set up a pre-audit site visit.

Botelho offered to tour farms, review records and practices and make suggestions that, if implemented, can help farms pass their certification audits.

Massachusetts has a cost share program that returns most, if not all, of the application fee to farmers. Water testing for bacteria (about $25) must be done three times a year on all nonmunicipal water sources (wells, ponds or streams) used for production: irrigation, post harvest washing and storage misting.

For more information on the Commonwealth Quality Program (CQP), contact Program Coordinator, Michael Botelho at Michael.Botelho@state.ma.us, or call (617)-626-1721. For more information on their certification experience, contact Lynn Reading at Billings Gate Farm at FarmGirl@BillingsgateFarm.com or call (781) 293-6144.

Page 3 - Section A • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • October 2012

Food safety certifications for Massachusetts farms

October 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • Section A - Page 4

Langevin in South Kingstown, RI to promote green industries Recently Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) visited the Green Market Festival in South Kingstown, where the Rhode Island Nursery and Landscape Association (RINLA) hosted a celebration of the state’s green industries. The event took place at The Farmer’s Daughter on Mooresfield Road and across the street at Landscape Creations of Rhode Island. Stressing that the state has a lot to gain from this part of the economy, Langevin joined the effort to promote buying and hiring local. The Festival provided a unique opportunity to bring together the many different aspects of Rhode Island’s green economy from display gardens, native plants and cut flowers to local fish and fresh fruits and vegetables.

Congressman Jim Langevin tours the festival with Shannon Brawley, Executive Director of RINLA (pictured next to Langevin).

Cover Photo by Emily Enger Jim Hoffman, owner of Sand Flats Orchard, keeps his signs simple and consistent in both logo and font. He builds and paints each sign himself but hires a print shop to design the lettering.

Country Folks The Monthly Newspaper for Greenhouses, Nurseries, Fruit & Vegetable Growers (518) 673-3237 • Fax # (518) 673-2381 (ISSN# 1065-1756) U.S.P.S. 008885 Country Folks Grower is published monthly by Lee Publications, P.O. Box 121, 6113 St. Hwy. 5, Palatine Bridge, NY 13428.

Periodical postage paid at Palatine Bridge, NY 13428.

Subscription Price: $20 per year. Canada $55 per year.

POSTMASTER: Send address change to Country Folks Grower, P.O. Box 121, Subscription Dept., Palatine Bridge, NY 13428-0121.

Publisher, President........................................Frederick W. Lee Vice-President Production ..........................Mark W. Lee, ext. 132..........................mlee@leepub.com Vice-President & General Manager ..........Bruce Button, ext. 104 .....................bbutton@leepub.com Comptroller ................................................Robert Moyer, ext. 148.....................bmoyer@leepub.com Production Coordinator ............................Jessica Mackay, ext. 137..................jmackay@leepub.com Editor ......................................................Joan Kark-Wren, ext. 141...............jkarkwren@leepub.com Page Composition ....................................Allison Swartz, ext. 139....................aswartz@leepub.com Classified Ad Manager ..............................Peggy Patrei, ext. 111 ..................classified@leepub.com

Palatine Bridge, Main Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 518-673-3237 Accounting/Billing Office . . . . . . . . 518-673-2269. . . . . . . . . . . amoyer@leepub.com Subscriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 518-673-2448 . . . . . subscriptions@leepub.com Web Site: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.leepub.com Send all correspondence to: PO Box 121, Palatine Bridge, NY 13428 Fax (518) 673-2699 Editorial Email: jkarkwren@leepub.com Advertising Email: jmackay@leepub.com AD SALES REPRESENTATIVES Bruce Button, Ad Sales Manager . . . . bbutton@leepub.com . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-218-5586, ext. 104 Dan Wren, Grower Sales Manager . . . dwren@leepub.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-218-5586, ext. 117 Jan Andrews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jandrews@leepub.com . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-218-5586, ext 110 Richard Barrett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .rbarrett@leepub.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-218-5586, ext. 118 Dave Dornburgh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ddornburgh@leepub.com . . . . . . . . . . . 800-218-5586, ext. 109 Steve Heiser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . sheiser@leepub.com . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-218-5586, ext. 119 Ian Hitchener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ihitchener@leepub.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 518-210-2066 Tina Krieger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . tkrieger@leepub.com . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-218-5586, ext. 262 Kegley Baumgardner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kegleyb@va.net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 540-255-9112 Wanda Luck / North Carolina. . . . . . . . . wwluck5@gmail.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336-416-6198 (cell) Mark Sheldon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . msheldon@gotsky.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 814-587-2519 Sue Thomas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . suethomas1@cox.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 949-599-6800 Lee Publications 6113 State Hwy. 5, PO Box 121, Palatine Bridge, NY 13428 We cannot GUARANTEE the return of photographs. Publisher not responsible for typographical errors.

Size, style of type and locations of advertisements are left to the discretion of the publisher. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. We will not knowingly accept or publish advertising which is fraudulent or misleading in nature. The publisher reserves the sole right to edit, revise or reject any and all advertising with or without cause being assigned which in his judgement is unwholesome or contrary to the interest of this publication. We assume no financial responsibility for typographical errors in advertisement, but if at fault, will reprint that portion of the ad in which the error appears.

By: Melissa Piper Nelson Farm News Service News and views on agricultural marketing techniques.

The Sensory Point Consumers buy with their senses — feel, taste, sight and smell. What we envision as appealing attracts us to lean in, learn more, and take another look. Do you remember the former trend to sell groceries in less visuallyattractive packaging?

Consumers said they would buy goods in “generic” boxes and bags and resist the higher priced items in fancy packaging. The “trend” was over almost before it began, and consumers were back to buying

what appealed to them, or the brand they had used for years.

As much as we think and plan for prudent customer options, the lure of visual, and other sensory appeals, is strong. That’s why grocery shelves are stocked with many brands and not just one or two generic packages. Visual appeal sells.

Colorful and attractive farmers’ market displays draw customers in. Customers gravitate to vendors

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who wisely use color, height and texture to enhance sales areas.

Retail businesses utilize aisle displays, banners and lighting to create ambiance. Think of your favorite stores and how items are arranged. You probably go back there to shop because you know you feel comfortable with the environment.

Producers selling at the farm gate have learned that visual context is a powerful motivator. Customers may not return if the sales area is not presentable, has a perimeter of trash and dirt, or just looks under-kept. While some producers protest the

sumer just want and appreciate a good product regardless of where it comes from or how it is displayed? Savvy consumers do judge a product more on content than frills, but we live in a very sensory world and react to what we judge to be the best by the way it looks, feels, tastes and smells.

Just like any other business in today’s economy, we are competing for customers and seeking the profit margin that will take us to the next level. We work hard to produce the best products possible and we need to present those products in an appealing way. Customer supported agriculture, wholesale production, retail sales, on-farm vending and other agricultural sales ventures are bounded by lots of competition. We make our mark with something distinct and unique. Many times that is the packaging and display we develop to enhance the product itself.

Take some time to review your operation and the products you are selling. What visually works and is sensorypleasing to your customers? What feedback are customers giving you? Where can you improve or change your options for increased sales? Perhaps you need to provide more samples, offer tastings, or let consumers tour your operation to get a sense of how you produce and package items.

As consumers we are all attracted to what appeals to our senses. We make choices based on that appeal as well as the basic need we are trying to serve. If we understand that other buyers are doing the same with the products we, as producers, offer then we have gained a new sense of how to market more effectively.

The above information is presented for educational purposes and is not intended to replace professional business and legal counseling.

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Page 5 - Section A • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • October 2012

Today’s Marketing Objectives

need for an attractive environment — “this is a working farm and customers need to get used to it” — the bottom line usually shows a different story.

As we are well aware, selling at or near the farm is influenced by the sense of smell just as compellingly as what we see. Smells around the farm are a fact of life, but producers have also learned that consumers do not always equate good farm products with what they feel are “bad” farm smells.

Feel and taste have their places in sensory selling as well. Consumers like to feel farm fibers and yarns before they buy, and taste juicy apples, smooth honey and chocolately- chocolate milk.

You may question why all of this attention to sensory selling is important. Doesn’t a con-

October 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • Section A - Page 6

BUYER’S S GUIDEE INDEX AGTOURISM-AGRITAINMENT Hillside Orchard Farms Inc. Produce Promotions ALTERNATIVE ENERGY Advancing Alternatives, Inc. ASSOCIATIONS Empire State Producers Expo BERRIES Awald Farms BioSafe Systems, LLC DeGrandchamp Farms, Inc. Doyle’s Thornless Blackberry, Inc. Nourse Farms, Inc. Vis Seed Company, Inc. CARTS AND WAGONS Satch Sales W.H. Milikowski, Inc. Wellmaster Carts CHRISTMAS ITEMS, OTHER JRM Chemical, Inc. Produce Promotions Santas Wholesale Supply CHRISTMAS TREES Abraczinskas Nurseries, Inc. Beloin Tree Farm Big Springs Nursery and Tree Farms, Inc. Foothill Farms, Inc. Natives Northwest Christmas Trees Needlefast Evergreens, Inc. Olson’s Balsams Pleasant Valley Tree Farm Produce Promotions EMPLOYMENT/HUMAN RESOURCES Florasearch, Inc. EQUIPMENT-FRUIT & VEGETABLE Anderson Injectors (H.E. Anderson Co.) CropCare Equipment Dema Engineering Company Martin’s Produce Supplies Mechanical Transplanter Co. OESCO, Inc. Penn’s Creek Welding & Manufacturing Quick Industries, Inc. Robert Marvel Plastic Mulch Small Farm Works Stokes Ladders, Inc. Valley Produce Supply BioSafe Systems, LLC EQUIPMENT-GREENHOUSE A1 Mist Sprayers Resources, Inc. Advancing Alternatives, Inc. Al-Par Peat Co. American Coolair Corporation Anderson Injectors (H.E. Anderson Co.) BioSafe Systems, LLC Farm Wholesale Ag Growing Systems, Inc. Martin’s Produce Supplies OESCO, Inc. Quick Industries, Inc.

EQUIPMENT-GREENHOUSE Seed E-Z Seeder, Inc. Small Farm Works Valley Produce Supply Oregon Valley Greenhouses Inc W.H. Milikowski, Inc. EQUIPMENT-NURSERY & LANDSCAPE A1 Mist Sprayers Resources, Inc. Al-Par Peat Co. Anderson Injectors (H.E. Anderson Co.) Awald Farms BioSafe Systems, LLC Dema Engineering Company Martin’s Produce Supplies Mechanical Transplanter Co. OESCO, Inc. O’Neill Associates Pine Bush Equipment Company, Inc. Quick Industries, Inc. Salem Farm Supply, Inc. Stokes Ladders, Inc. Thomas Bros. Equipment Sales Inc. W.H. Milikowski, Inc. FARM MARKET ITEMS Hillside Orchard Farms Inc. Martin’s Produce Supplies Produce Promotions Putnam Plastics Inc. Quick Industries, Inc. Santas Wholesale Supply Tokens Direct Vitamin Institute W.H. Milikowski, Inc. FENCING AND TRELLISING OESCO, Inc. Olson’s Balsams Quick Industries, Inc. Trickl-Eez Company Valley Produce Supply FERTILIZER Acadian Seaplants Limited Al-Par Peat Co. Doyle’s Thornless Blackberry, Inc. JRM Chemical, Inc. Martin’s Produce Supplies Quality Mulch Products Soil Technologies Corp.

Valley Produce Supply Vantage Partners W.H. Milikowski, Inc. FRUIT TREES A1 Mist Sprayers Resources, Inc. Harris Seeds GENERATORS OESCO, Inc. GREENHOUSE PLANTSFINISHED Barone Gardens BioSafe Systems, LLC Florasearch, Inc. Hazzard’s Plants & Seeds Vitamin Institute GREENHOUSE PLANTSYOUNG PLANTS Barone Gardens

GREENHOUSE PLANTSYOUNG PLANTS BioSafe Systems, LLC Fleurizon LLC Florasearch, Inc. Harris Seeds Hazzard’s Plants & Seeds Vis Seed Company, Inc. Vitamin Institute W.H. Milikowski, Inc. GREENHOUSES AND SUPPLIES A1 Mist Sprayers Resources, Inc. Advancing Alternatives, Inc. Al-Par Peat Co. Dema Engineering Company Farm Wholesale Ag Florasearch, Inc. Grower’s Supply JRM Chemical, Inc. Maine Garden Products Martin’s Produce Supplies Natural Industries Northern Greenhouse Sales Oregon Valley Greenhouses Inc Quick Industries, Inc. RootMaker Products Company, LLC Santas Wholesale Supply Valley Produce Supply Vermont Compost Company Vitamin Institute W.H. Milikowski, Inc. Warp’s Flex-O-Glass Greenhouse Films GROUND COVERS Al-Par Peat Co. Martin’s Produce Supplies Northern Greenhouse Sales Valley Produce Supply Vantage Partners W.H. Milikowski, Inc. HEATING Al-Par Peat Co. Martin’s Produce Supplies Oregon Valley Greenhouses Inc W.H. Milikowski, Inc. HYDROPONICS BioSafe Systems, LLC Florasearch, Inc. Grower’s Supply Vitamin Institute W.H. Milikowski, Inc. HYDROSEEDING Ecologel Solutions, LLC JRM Chemical, Inc. Vitamin Institute IRRIGATION Al-Par Peat Co. Anderson Injectors (H.E. Anderson Co.) BioSafe Systems, LLC Dema Engineering Company Ecologel Solutions, LLC Florasearch, Inc. Growing Systems, Inc. Martin’s Produce Supplies Rain-Flo Irrigation LLC Robert Marvel Plastic Mulch Trickl-Eez Company Valley Produce Supply Vitamin Institute W.H. Milikowski, Inc.

LANDSCAPE PRODUCTS Florasearch, Inc. JRM Chemical, Inc. Martin’s Produce Supplies OESCO, Inc. Quick Industries, Inc. RootMaker Products Company, LLC Soil Technologies Corp.

Tallman Ladders, Inc. Valley Produce Supply Vantage Partners Vermont Compost Company Vitamin Institute W.H. Milikowski, Inc. MULCH PLASTIC Al-Par Peat Co. CropCare Equipment Harris Seeds Martin’s Produce Supplies Mechanical Transplanter Co. Northern Greenhouse Sales Rain-Flo Irrigation LLC Robert Marvel Plastic Mulch Trickl-Eez Company Valley Produce Supply Vantage Partners W.H. Milikowski, Inc. MULCH-LANDSCAPE Northern Greenhouse Sales Valley Produce Supply NATIVE PLANTS Island Park, LLC Vitamin Institute NURSERY SEEDLINGS AND TRANSPLANTS Harris Seeds NURSERY STOCK-FINISHED Abraczinskas Nurseries, Inc. BioSafe Systems, LLC Florasearch, Inc. Foothill Farms, Inc. Island Park, LLC Nourse Farms, Inc. Vitamin Institute Wafler Nursery NURSERY SUPPLIES A1 Mist Sprayers Resources, Inc. Advancing Alternatives, Inc. Al-Par Peat Co. Florasearch, Inc. JRM Chemical, Inc. Maine Garden Products Martin’s Produce Supplies OESCO, Inc. Quick Industries, Inc. RootMaker Products Company, LLC Stokes Ladders, Inc. Vantage Partners Vermont Compost Company Vitamin Institute W.H. Milikowski, Inc. NURSERY YOUNG PLANTS Awald Farms BioSafe Systems, LLC D & B Plants Florasearch, Inc. Hazzard’s Plants & Seeds Vis Seed Company, Inc. Vitamin Institute

Find the product category you are interested in on this index and then refer to the expanded company listing on the pages that follow.

ORCHARD SUPPLIES A1 Mist Sprayers Resources, Inc. Martin’s Produce Supplies OESCO, Inc. Quick Industries, Inc. RootMaker Products Company, LLC Stokes Ladders, Inc. Superior Fruit Equipment Tallman Ladders, Inc. Valley Produce Supply Vitamin Institute Wafler Nursery ORGANICS Acadian Seaplants Limited BioSafe Systems, LLC Harris Seeds Natural Industries Soil Technologies Corp.

W.H. Milikowski, Inc. PACKAGING Martin’s Produce Supplies Putnam Plastics Inc. PEAT MOSS AND GROWING MIXES Al-Par Peat Co. Florasearch, Inc. Harris Seeds JRM Chemical, Inc. Martin’s Produce Supplies Soil Technologies Corp.

Valley Produce Supply Vermont Compost Company W.H. Milikowski, Inc. PERENNIALS Barone Gardens Florasearch, Inc. Hazzard’s Plants & Seeds Vis Seed Company, Inc. W.H. Milikowski, Inc. PEST CONTROL BioSafe Systems, LLC Harris Seeds Martin’s Produce Supplies, Inc. Natural Industries Soil Technologies Corp.

W.H. Milikowski, Inc.

PUMPKINS AND HALLOWEEN Awald Farms BioSafe Systems, LLC Produce Promotions Santas Wholesale Supply Tokens Direct SEEDERS Growing Systems, Inc. SEED-FLOWER Barone Gardens Florasearch, Inc. Harris Seeds Hazzard’s Plants & Seeds Olds Garden Seed - Seedway Terroir Seeds LLC Vis Seed Company, Inc. SEED-VEGETABLE Barone Gardens Florasearch, Inc. Growing Systems, Inc. Harris Seeds Hazzard’s Plants & Seeds Kitazawa Seed Company Martin’s Produce Supplies, Inc. Olds Garden Seed - Seedway Ornamental Edibles Outstanding Seed, LLC Rupp Seeds, Inc. Terroir Seeds LLC Valley Produce Supply Vis Seed Company, Inc. SKID STEER Randall Implements SOIL AND COMPOST Al-Par Peat Co. Florasearch, Inc. Martin’s Produce Supplies, Inc. Quality Mulch Products Soil Technologies Corp.

Vantage Partners Vermont Compost Company Vitamin Institute SOIL MIXERS AND BAGGERS Florasearch, Inc. SPECIALTY FOODS Dillman Farm, Inc.

POTS-CONTAINERS Al-Par Peat Co. Anderson Die & Manufacturing Harris Seeds Martin’s Produce Supplies, Inc. RootMaker Products Company, LLC Santas Wholesale Supply Small Farm Works Valley Produce Supply Vantage Partners W.H. Milikowski, Inc.

SPRAYERS A1 Mist Sprayers Resources, Inc. CropCare Equipment Dema Engineering Company Martin’s Produce Supplies, Inc. OESCO, Inc. Penn’s Creek Welding & Manufacturing Thomas Bros. Equipment Sales Inc. W.H. Milikowski, Inc.

PRODUCE BioSafe Systems, LLC Island Park, LLC Martin’s Produce Supplies, Inc.

STAKES Martin’s Produce Supplies, Inc. Quick Industries, Inc. Vantage Partners

PRUNING OESCO, Inc. Stokes Ladders, Inc. Superior Fruit Equipment W.H. Milikowski, Inc.

TAGS, LABELS, & SIGNS Martin’s Produce Supplies, Inc. Parker Davis Co. Putnam Plastics Inc. Quick Industries, Inc. Valley Produce Supply W.H. Milikowski, Inc.

A.M.A. PLASTICS, LTD - AL'S FLOWER POUCH II Contact: Lisa Janzen 1367 Oxford Ave. Kingsville, Ontario CN N9Y 2S8 (519) 322-1397; (800) 338-1136 Fax: (519) 322-1358 www.alsflowerpouch.com ljanzen@amaplas.com Al's Flower Pouch. A burst of beauty in a bag. Now degradable.

A.M.A. PLASTICS, LTD ELLEPOTS Contact: Lisa Janzen 1367 Oxford Ave. Kingsville, Ontario CN N9Y 2S8 (519) 322-1397; (800) 338-1136 Fax: (519) 322-1358 www.amasplas.com ljanzen@amaplas.com

Ellepots by A.M.A. Fast, healthy rooting for your cuttings. Vegetative, nursery, fruit trees, perennials, grapes and more.

A.M.A. PLASTICS, LTD HYDROPONICS Contact: Lisa Janzen 1367 Oxford Ave. Kingsville, Ontario CN N9Y 2S8 (519) 322-1397; (800) 338-1136 Fax: (519) 322-1358 www.amaplas.com ljanzen@amaplas.com Hydroponic growing mediums (plugs, blocks, slabs), Stonewool nuggets, Deleco tomato clips & truss supports, Lankhorst twines. Ask us about degradable twines & clips.

A1 MIST SPRAYERS RESOURCES, INC. Contact: Steve Nelson 110 W. 3rd St. Ponla, NE 68770 (877) 924-2474 Fax: (402) 755-4143 www.mistsprayers.com resources@mistsprayers.com MIST/AIR Blast sprayers & specialty sprayers for fruit & vegetable growers and vineyard, orchard growers. Also, we specialize in livestock spraying & insect control.

www.cfgrower.com

ABRACZINSKAS NURSERIES, INC. Contact: Kathy McMullen 346 Nunidia Dr. Catawissa, PA 17820 (570) 356-2323 Fax: (570) 356-2366 www.abracziskas.com abs@sunlink.net Growers of Premium trees for over 100 years. Family owned & operated. Wholesale business.

ACADIAN SEAPLANTS LIMITED Contact: Greg Nichols 30 Brown Ave. Dartmouth, NS B3B 1X8 (902) 468-2840 Fax: (902) 468-3474 www.acadianseaplants.com info@acadian.ca Acadian Seaplants is the world leading supplier of crop input

BUYER’S S GUIDEE INDEX TRACTORS Pine Bush Equipment Company, Inc. Randall Implements Salem Farm Supply, Inc.

TRADE SHOW Empire State Producers Expo NJ Plants - Professional Landscape & Nursery Trade Show PANTS - Penn Atlantic Nursery Trade Show

TRAILERS Carl Neutzel Services Wellmaster Carts TRANSPORTATION Satch Sales

VINEYARD EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES A1 Mist Sprayers Resources, Inc. BioSafe Systems, LLC Dema Engineering Company OESCO, Inc. Quick Industries, Inc. RootMaker Products Company, LLC Soil Technologies Corp.

products derived exclusively from Ascophyllum Nodosum seaweed. With over three decades of scientifically proven results, Acadian understands and addresses grower needs to ensure the production of healthy, productive plants.

ADIRONDACK CHANDLER Contact: Kim Meade 21 Cooper St. Glens Falls, NY 12801 (518) 798-1800 Fax: (518) 824-5739 www.adkchandler.com info@adkchandler.com Scented and unscented hand dipped, smokeless, dripless taper candles, tealights, votives and more. Waxes include True Bayberry, Beeswax, Paraffin, Palm Wax, Soy. Other items including reed diffusers, firestarters, etc. Display racks and private labeling available.

No minimum.

ADVANCING ALTERNATIVES, INC. Contact: Dave Stoltzfus 717 Schuylkill Mountain Rd. Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972 (570) 739-1034 Fax: (570) 739-1258 www.advancingalternatives.com advance@advancingalternatives.com Dedicated to the Greenhouse Industry by servicing commercial growers and garden centers since 1997. Our Roll-Up/LockDown Curtain Systems, motors and operators can be installed on most any straight or curved sided structure.

AL-PAR PEAT CO. Contact: Jeff Campbell 5900 Henderson Rd. Elsie, MI 48831 (989) 661-7850 Fax: (989) 661-7854 www.alparonesource.com jeff@alparonesource.com

Find the product category you are interested in on this index and then refer to the expanded company listing on the pages that follow.

VINEYARD EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES Superior Fruit Equipment Thomas Bros. Equipment Sales Inc. WEED CONTROL A1 Mist Sprayers Resources, Inc. BioSafe Systems, LLC OESCO, Inc.

WEED CONTROL Oregon Valley Greenhouses Inc RootMaker Products Company, LLC Soil Technologies Corp.

Thomas Bros. Equipment Sales Inc. Vantage Partners W.H. Milikowski, Inc.

Page 7 - Section A • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • October 2012

BUYER’S S GUIDEE COMPANY Y LISTINGS

October 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • Section A - Page 8

AMERICAN COOLAIR CORPORATION Contact: Mark Fales P.O. Box 2300 Jacksonville, FL 32203-2300 (904) 389-3646 Fax: (904) 387-3449 www.coolair.com agfans@coolair.com American Coolair Corporation has provided versatile and economical high velocity air-flow systems for the greenhouse industry for more than 80 years.

Precise engineering, quality materials and innovative production techniques have made Coolair today’s energy efficient solution to greenhouse ventilation.

ANDERSON DIE & MANUFACTURING Rick Anderson 2425 SE Moores St. Portland, OR 97222 (800) 950-7687; (503) 654-5629 Fax: (503) 654-5655 www.andersonpots.com info@andersonpots.com

Anderson’s cross-bottom bands are famous for higher survival rates and superior root development. Anderson’s quality inject molded field and greenhouse containers, flats, and saucers are all highly praised by professional growers.

ANDERSON INJECTORS (H.E. ANDERSON CO.) Contact: Bruce Walters 2100 Anderson Dr. Muskogee, OK 74401 (800) 331-9620 www.heanderson.com bruce@heanderson.com Anderson Injection Systems are more affordable than you think.

Is it worth having the most accurate, dependable, flexible and long lasting injection system available? How much do you pay for fertilizers, fungicides, acids, sanitizers, Humic, etc.

Give us a call!

AWALD FARMS Contact: Ed or Millie Awald 2195 Shirley Rd. North Collins, NY 14111 (716) 337-3162 Fax: (716) 337-3600 awaldsfarm@aol.com www.awaldfarms.com Awald Farms has: U-Pick Blueberries, Red, Black, and Purple Raspberries, and Strawberries.

Nursery stock available for raspberries and thornless blackberries. Also grower of giant pumpkins.

BARONE GARDENS Contact: John Barone 6200 South Ray Rd. Cicero, NY 13035 (315) 699-4724 Fax: (315) 699-2081 www.bgardens.com info@bgardens.com High Quality liner producer of the complete line of the Suntory collection and Ecke Geraniums.

Also, producers of Yoder & Grolink mum liners. We also have a full line of spring finished plants!

BARTLETT BENCH AND WIRE, INC. Contact: Pike Bartlett 574 Cushing Rd. Friendship, ME 04547 (877) 32B-ENCH (23624) Fax: (207) 236-2006 www.bbwire.com info@bbwire.com We offer a complete line of greenhouse bench systems as well as several lines of retail displays, stand-ups for nursery containers, and our newest self-contained Freedom Greenhouses are a best seller!

108 Hinsdale Road - Route 63 Northfield, MA 01360 Tel. 1-800-221-2049 Fax 1-413-498-2051 www.FAFGrowers.com Come see us at the Northeast Greenhouse Conference November 7 & 8 in Worcester, MA. Booth #1218

Now is the perfect time to place your order for your Spring Young Plant Needs.

We offer an extensive selection including: Trixi multiliners, Calibrachoa, Gerbera Daisy, Geraniums, and Wave Petunias.

Call us if you would like to receive a copy of our new 2013 Annual Plug and Rooted Liner catalog.

Plug & Cutting Orders received by December 1 will receive a 3% discount Now taking orders for Prefinished Hanging Baskets and Potted Crops for Spring 2013.

Call for Product List and Pricing

New for 2013 - Echinacea Cheyenne Spirit, Petunia Sophistica Blackberry, Cool Wave Pansy, Citronella Scented Geranium, Calibrachoa Celebration Peach Cobbler

BEJO SEEDS, INC. Contact: Jeff Trickett 1972 Silver Spur Place Oceano, CA 93445 (805) 473-2199 Fax: (805) 473-0897 www.bejoseeds.com j.trickett@bejoseeds.com Bejo, a name that stands for quality.... Our focus is quality, market specific vegetable seed.

As part of a worldwide Bejo team, we engage in breeding, seed production, marketing, sales, trials, product development and customer support.

BELOIN TREE FARM Contact: Daniel Beloin 160 Stevens Hill Rd. Colebrook, NH 03576 (603) 237-8633 Fax: (603) 237-6633 belointreefarm@gmail.com We grow Balsam Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir, and a few Blue Spruce on 250 acres. Five brothers and a sister make this operation solid and reliable year after year. We have 3 grades of trees from 3’-15’ and can arrange shipment for you.

BIG SPRINGS NURSERY AND TREE FARMS, INC. Contact: Richard Calhoun P.O. Box 878 Jefferson, NC 28640 (336) 384-8733 Fax: (336) 384-8734 www.bigspringsnursery.com nccdoc@skybest.com We are a wholesale Fraser Fir Christmas Tree Farm. We specialize in trees for the Garden Center and Farm Market Operations.

BIOSAFE SYSTEMS, LLC Contact: Andrea Farwell 22 Meadow St. East Hartford, CT 06108 (860) 290-8890 Fax: (860) 290-8802 www.biosafesystems.com afarwell@biosafesystems.com BioSafe Systems provides disease control solutions utilizing reduced-risk chemistries that do not negatively impact the health and safety of people and the environment. BioSafe Systems manufactures biodegradable products for agriculture, horticulture, post harvest, food safety, aquatics, and home & garden.

CARL NEUTZEL SERVICES Contact: Carl Neutzel 2648 Openshaw Rd. White Hall, MD 21161 (410) 329-6791 Fax: (410) 357-4175 cwneutzel@verizon.net www.carlneutzel.com Carl Neutzel Services sells and services quality machinery for productive forestry. Splitters, processors, loaders, trailers, Meri Crusher, Logrite tools and Gransfors Bruks axes.

CROPCARE EQUIPMENT Contact: Kenton Glick 50 Wood Corner Rd. Lititz, PA 17543 (717) 738-7365 Fax: (717) 738-7369 www.cropcareequipment.com info@cropcareequipment.com Manufacturing and distributing quality Ag sprayers from 551000 gallons, farm & lawn sprayers 25-60 Gallons, and Vegetable Equipment such as a Picking Assistant and Plastic lifter-wrapper

D & B PLANTS Contact: Bob Kuszmaul 27550 School Section Rd. Richmond, MI 48062 (810) 392-3393 Fax: (810) 392-3397 www.dandbplants.com info@dandbplants.com DEGRANDCHAMP FARMS, INC. Contact: Mike DeGrandchamp 76241 14th Ave. South Haven, MI 49090 (888) 483-7431 Fax: (269) 637-2531 www.degrandchamps.com info@degrandchamps.com Celebrating 54 years in the blue-

DEMA ENGINEERING COMPANY Contact: Jeff Smith 10020 Big Bend Blvd.

St. Louis, MO 63122 (314) 966-3533 Fax: (314) 965-8319 www.demaeng.com jeffs@demaeng.com DEMA Manufacturers chemical dispensers and solenoid valves for numerous industries including agriculture, greenhouses,

landscaping and nurseries. We offer MixRite water drive proportional injectors, electronic pump systems and venturies.

Our customers routinely inject fertilizers, acids, sanitizing agents, cleaning chemicals and insecticides.

DILLMAN FARM, INC. Contact: Cary Dillman 4955 W. St. Rd. 45 Bloomington, IN 47403 (812) 825-5525 Fax: (812) 825-4650 carydillman@dillmanfarm.com www.dillmanfarm.com Manufacturer of all natural apple butter, fruit butters, fruit preserves, salsas, mustards, sucrose free spreads and hot apple products. Private labeling available.

NE W CONSTRUCTION O R R E N O VAT I O N. . .

DOYLE’S THORNLESS BLACKBERRY, INC. Washington, IN 47501 (812) 254-2654 DPSEEDS Contact: Yvonne Higgins 8269 E. Hwy. 95 Yuma, AZ 85365 (928) 341-8494 www.dpseeds.com info@dpseeds.com Committed to providing the highest quality seed from around the world. We are a hybrid vegetable seed company dedicated to providing seeds of the highest quality to commercial vegetable growers worldwide.

Give us a call!!

ECOLOGEL SOLUTIONS, LLC 1301 SW 37th Ave., Suite 110 Ocala, FL 34474 (888) 545-6307 EMPIRE STATE PRODUCERS EXPO Contact: Jeanette Marvin Syracuse, NY 13202 (315) 986-9320 www.nysvga.org info@nysvga.org Formerly the Empire State Fruit & Vegetable Expo. The show serves the fruit, vegetable, direct marketing and greenhouse industries.

FAF GROWERS - FIVE ACRE FARM Contact: Cindy Drumgool 108 Hinsdale Rd. Northfield, MA 1360 (800) 221-2049 Fax: (413) 498-2051 www.fafgrowers.com

FLORASEARCH, INC. 1740 Lake Markham Rd. Sanford, FL 32771 (407) 320-8177 Fax: (407) 320-8083 www.florasearch.com search@florasearch.com Key employee search firm for the greater horticulture industry and allied trades worldwide.

Retained only, candidate contest encouraged, confidential, free.

fafgrowers@verizon.net Wholesale grower of Annual plugs, rooted liners, prefinished and finished plants. We offer Trixi multiliners, Geraniums, Wave Petunias, Calibrachoa, Gerbera Dairy, Herbs, Vegetables and Perennials.

FARM WHOLESALE AG Contact: Phil Edmunds 3740 Brooklake Rd. NE Salem, OR 97303 (877) 234-1595 Fax: (503) 393-3119 info@farmwholesale.com www.farmwholesaleag.com Featuring corrugated plastic Solexx greenhouse coverings, tree guards, grow tubes and harvesting and shipping totes.

FOOTHILL FARMS, INC. Contact: Frank Sullivan P.O. Box 79 Benton, PA 17814 (570) 336-3117 Fax: (732) 907-3427 www.foothillfarmsinc.com treeinfo@foothillfarmsinc.com We are growers of premium evergreen trees. Contact us for cut Christmas trees or B & B landscaping needs. Price lists and special offers can be found on our website. Early bird and quantity discounts available to wholesalers.

FISH HATCHERY AT FALCONWOOD FARMS Contact: David Shelby 147 Old Forge Rd. Wingdale, NY 12594 (845) 832-7127 www.fishfarmz.com FLEURIZON LLC Contact: Frank De Greef 1602 Grace Crt. Camarillo, CA 93010 (805) 389-8980 Fax: (805) 823-2723 www.fleurizon.com info@fleurizon.com Fleurizon is the distributor for all your normal and exclusive plant starter material. We carry many interesting plants for the grower who wants to have different items in their assortment. We also carry your normal starter material products.

GROWER’S SUPPLY South Windsor, CT 06074 (800) 476-9715

TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT ORDERING TREES NOW TO SHIP FOR SPRING 2013

Producing Quality Apple, Cherry, & Pear Trees For More Than 50 Years.

Extensive Inventory of Budded Trees Orchard Supplies

R E TA I L G A R D E N C E N T E R or C O M M E R C I A L P R O D U C T I O N. . .

Our Service...Your Satisfaction!

LET US DESIGN YOURS www.ludy.com • info@ludy.com

1-800-255-LUDY

Wildlife Packages

er m Ord Custo 5 or 201 Now f e & Sav o Up T

30%

ASK ABOUT OUR NEW GISELA 6 & GISELA 12 CHERRY ROOTSTOCK 10748 Slaght Rd., Wolcott, NY 14590 • (315) 594-2399 • www.waflernursery.com

1428 Mauch Chunk Road Bethlehem, PA 18018 Phone: 610-868-0992 Fax: 610-868-7609 Visit us at PennPerlite.com

Horticultural Perlite Manufacturer 4 CuFt Bags 55 CuFt Jumbo Sacks B u l k Ta n k e r d e l i v e r y i n yo u r s i l o s

Page 9 - Section A • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • October 2012

berry industry, offering over 30 varieties of “Virus Tested” blueberry plants.

October 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • Section A - Page 10

GROWING SYSTEMS, INC. Contact: Dana V. Cable, Sr., President 2950 N. Weil St. Milwaukee, WI 53212 (414) 263-3131 Fax: (414) 263-2454 info@growingsystemsinc.com www.growingsystemsinc.com Manufacturers of plastic propagation trays, Vandana tubeless seeder, convertible tube seeder, convertible plug dislodger, dual rail traveling irrigator, boomless mono-rail irrigator, mono-rail trolley carts, spring lock poly fastener, channel and wire.

HARRIS SEEDS Contact: Richard Chamberlin 355 Paul Rd., PO Box 24966 Rochester, NY 14624-0966 (585) 935-7015 Fax: (585) 259-3609 rchamberlin@harrisseeds.com www.harrisseeds.com Full line vegetable and flower seed distributor. Plugs and liners, growing supplies, organic and untreated seeds. Serving professional growers for 133 years.

paulferretti@bellsouth.net Japanese Maples, Beech, Dogwood - liners and larger, container grown.

JRM CHEMICAL, INC. Contact: Scott Wiesler 4881 Neo Pkwy Cleveland, OH 44128 (216) 478-8488 Fax: (216) 475-6517 www.soilmoist.com jrm@en.com Soil Moist water storing polymer products. Reduces plant waterings by 50%. Ideal for all plantings interior and exterior. Soil Moist Plus with fertilizer and a full line of mycorrhizal products.

Retail and commercial packaging. Holiday and decorative polymer products available.

KELLEYGREEN NURSERY Contact: Paul Ferretti P.O. Box 1130 Drain, OR 97435 (843) 814-1757 Fax: (341) 836-2290 www.kelleygreennursery.com

KITAZAWA SEED COMPANY 201 4th St., Unit 206 Oakland, CA 94607 (510) 595-1188 Fax: (510) 595-1860 www.kitazawaseed.com seeds@kitazawaseed.com Since 1917, specializing in Asian Vegetable seeds for commercial growers, retailers and home gardeners. Over 450 varieties for Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese, Thai, Korean, India, Vietnamese and US Cuisines.

KRIEGER'S WHOLESALE NURSERY, INC. P.O. Box 116 Bridgman, MI 49106 (269) 465-5522 Fax: (269) 465-4822 www.kriegersnrsery.com Specialized growers of quality small fruit plants including rasp-

berries, grapes, blueberries, gooseberries, currants, jostaberries, asparagus and rhubarb.

LESSORD CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM Contact: Don Lessord 48 West Main St. Sodus, NY 14551 (315) 483-6916 Fax: (315) 483-2256 www.lessord.com MAINE GARDEN PRODUCTS Contact: Pike Bartlett 576 Cushing Rd. Friendship, ME 04547 (207) 236-2600 Fax: (207) 236-2006 www.mainegarden.com info@mainegarden.com Manufacturer of heirloom quality garden tools, benches, and accessories. MADE IN MAINE

products include the Maine Garden Hod, the Freedom Greenhouse, and the Able Table Potting Bench.

MARTIN’S PRODUCE SUPPLIES Contact: Kevin Martin 627 Britton Rd. Shippensburg, PA 17257 (717) 532-5918 Fax: (717) 532-5872 kevin@martinsproducesupplies .com Martin’s Produce Supplies has been in the produce and greenhouse supply business for many years. We make every effort to give you quality material and friendly prompt service to back it up. Thanks for your business

MECHANICAL TRANSPLANTER CO. 1150 Central Ave. Holland, MI 49423 (616) 396-8738 Fax: (616) 396-3619 www.mechanicaltransplanter.com mtc@egl.net Mechanical Transplanter Co. is a leading U.S. Manufacturer of transplanters, mulch layers, and other related products. They also are the distributors of the Jang seeder products, plastic mulch & related drip tape products.

HAZZARD’S PLANTS & SEEDS Contact: Joyce Hazzard P.O. Box 151 Deford, MI 48729 (989) 872-5057 Fax: (989) 546-4344 www.hazzardsgreenhouse.com joyce@hazzardsgreenhouse.com Over 8,000 varieties of seeds as well as a huge selection of plants in plug trays. Easy click to buy. All items pictured! Open to all Shoppers! No Minimum purchase required!

HILLSIDE ORCHARD FARMS INC. Contact: Lynn McDaniel 105 Mitcham Cir. Tiger, GA 30576 (706) 782-4995 Fax: (706) 782-7848 www.hillsideorchard.com We are a manufacturing facility which processes over 600 jams, ciders, pickles, relishes, etc. We also offer private label and contract packaging.

ISLAND PARK, LLC Contact: Felicity Purzycki 52 E. Elmwood Rd. Menands, NY 12204 (518) 365-6074 Fax: (518) 362-2482 sales@islandparktrees.com www.islandparktrees.com Wholesale nursery grower of ornamentals, shade and fruit trees. Sell to trades only. Located just outside of Albany, NY on 400 acres.

STANTON EQUIPMENT 105 South Main St. East Windsor, CT 06088 860-623-8296 800-842-8968 Outside CT

BLACKMOUNT EQUIPMENT, INC. RD 1, Box 19 North Haverhill, NH 03774 603-787-6311

HINES EQUIPMENT Old Rte. 22 West Cresson, PA 16630 814-886-4183

PIKEVILLE EQUIPMENT, INC. 521 Oysterdale Rd. Oley, PA 19547 610-987-6277

NATURAL INDUSTRIES Contact: Boomer Cardinale Houston, TX (888) 261-4731 www.naturalindustries.com boomer@naturalindustries.com NESEED Contact: Maureen 3580 Main St.

NEEDLEFAST EVERGREENS, INC. Contact: Jim Nickelson 4075 W. Hansen Rd. Ludington, MI 49431 (231) 843-8524; (877) 255-0535 Fax: (231) 843-1887 www.needlefastevergreens.com nickel@needlefastevergreens .com Family owned and Operated — Providing Quality Nursery Stock and Christmas Trees Since 1956. Seedlings and Transplants — FIR: Balsam, Fraser, Concolor, Corkbark, Douglas, Korean. PINE: Red, White, Jack, Austrian, Scotch.

SPRUCE: Blue, Black Hills, Norway, White, Serbian. Christmas Trees Competitively Priced.

NJ PLANTS - PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPE & NURSERY TRADE SHOW Contact: Mark Wartenburg 309 Morris Ave., Suite D Spring Lake, NJ 07762 (732) 449-4004 Fax: (732) 449-5566 www.njplantshow.com mark@macevents.com January 22-23, 2013 - NJ Plants serves as a Green Industry catalyst for the NJ & the NY Metro area. It unites all segments of the Industry for 2 days of education/seminars, new product releases & business-to-business networking.

NORTHERN GREENHOUSE SALES Contact: Bob Davis Box 42 Neche, ND 58265

(204) 327-5540 Fax: (204) 327-5527 www.northerngreenhouse.com info@northerngreenhouse.com Superstrong custom sizes, greenhouse plastic and pond liners, resists hailstones, snow, winds, ravens, yellowing, and leaf burning. Also black, silver, white strong plastic. Free samples. Phone 5 am - 6 pm central time, 204-327-5540

NOURSE FARMS, INC. Contact: Nate Nourse 41 River Rd. South Deerfield, MA 01373 (413) 665-2658 Fax: (413) 665-7888 www.noursefarms.com info@noursefarms.com Nourse Farms brings you the Best Berry Plants. We have made our variety listings & descriptions available for you to review on our website www.noursefarms.com. Email us at info@noursefarms.com.

Free catalog and strawberry plasticulture guide available.

OESCO, INC. Contact: Howard Boyden P.O. Box 540, 8 Ashfield Rd. Conway, MA 01341 (413) 369-4335

Fax: (413) 369-4431 www.oescoinc.com info@oescoinc.com Supplying growers, gardeners and groundskeeping professionals since 1954.

OLDS GARDEN SEED SEEDWAY Elizabethtown, PA 53038 (800) 952-7333 Seed-Flower Seed-Vegetable OLSON’S BALSAMS Contact: Duane Olson N3268 Hill Road Antigo, WI 54409 (715) 623-6590 Fax: (715) 627-0624 www.olsonsbalsams.com olsonsbalsams@hotmail.com The Christmas Trees are located in Osseo, WI, near Eau Claire, WI and the trees are also located in Antigo, WI O’NEILL ASSOCIATES Contact: John Werder 795 Canning Pkwy.

Victor, NY 14564 (800) 724-3145 Fax: (800) 724-3144 www.oneilloutdoor.com john@oneilloutdoor.com Lawn and Garden Equipment: BCS Tillers, Lawn Mowers, Sickle Bar Mowers, Power Sweeper, Chipper/Shredder, Plows, Mini Trencher, Dozer Blade, Utility Trailers, Transport Sulky, Mowing Sulky, Log Splitter. In business for 59 years.

OREGON VALLEY GREENHOUSES INC Contact: Kip Schuening 20357 Hwy. 99E; P.O. Box 220 Aurora, OR 97002 (503) 678-2700 Fax: (503) 678-2789 www.ovg.com kips@ovg.com Over 20 years of Greenhouse manufacturing. Also, supplying poly, poly carbonate, shade cloth, ground cover, wire lock, heaters, exhaust systems, livestock structures and equipment storage.

ORNAMENTAL EDIBLES Contact: Ralph Waggitt 5723 Trowbridge Way San Jose, CA 95138 (408) 528-7333 Fax: (408) 532-1499 www.ornamentaledibles.com seeds@ornamentaledibles.com Ornamental Edibles is an international mail order seed business, providing untreated and organic vegetable seeds to discriminating specialty markets and hydroponic growers.

Page 11 - Section A • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • October 2012

NATIVES NORTHWEST CHRISTMAS TREES Contact: Chris Aldrich 190 Aldrich Rd. Mossyrock, WA 98564 (360) 978-4611 Fax: (360) 357-6299 www.nnwchristmastrees.com nnwchristmastrees@tds.net Natives Northwest grows premium quality Christmas trees with exceptional foliage. Family owned, professionally managed since 1978. Prompt affordable delivery nationwide. Fresh and clean harvesting and loading.

Mechanical shaking available.

Sustainability Certification coming soon. Call us this season!

Hartford, CT 6120 800-825-5477 www.neseed.com feedback@neseed.com Vegetable, flower and herb seed store for commercial and home growers. Seeds available in bulk and packets. Order by Phone: or online. Request our free catalog online. Flat rate shipping, free USA seed shipping over $99.99, 10% discount over $999.99.

October 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • Section A - Page 12

OUTSTANDING SEED, LLC Contact: John Hoffman 354 Center Grange Rd. Monaca, PA 15061 (877) 248-4567 Fax: (724) 775-1544 www.outstandingseed.com john@outstandingseed.com Outstanding Seed Company LLC is a breeder and producer of Mildew resistant pumpkin hybrids.

PANTS - PENN ATLANTIC NURSERY TRADE SHOW Contact: Mark Wartenburg 309 Morris Ave., Suite D Spring Lake, NJ 07762 (732) 449-4004 Fax: (732) 449-5566 www.pantshow.com mark@macevents.com The 41st PANTS is the mid-summer “must-see” horticultural marketplace event in Eastern Pennsylvania. PANTS allows green industry members to plan their year ahead & get the first look at new product lines, varieties & cultivars.

PARKER DAVIS CO. Contact: Roman Davis 2310 N. Tryon St. Charlotte, NC 28206 (800) 438-0387 Fax: (704) 375-9116 www.parkerdavis.com sales@parkerdavis.com StepStakes®, our patented line of nursery markers, are great for signage in garden centers, as well as working stakes for growers. Galvanized stakes come in 5 lengths, while corru-

World d Famouss Doyle’s Thornlesss Blackberry Thomas E. Doyle (6/26/1900 1/13-01)

LOOK WHAT YOU CAN GET FROM ONE PLANT

• Totally thornless and does not sucker • Yields 10-20 gallons per plant!

• Proven producer since 1975!

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• Great for commercial growers and hobbyists

Doyle’s Thornless Blackberry, Inc. 1600 Bedford Road, Washington, IN 47501 PH: (812) 254-2654 FX: (812) 254-2655 doyle@fruitsandberries.com

www.fruitsandberries.com

gated plastic cards are available in a variety of sizes and colors.

PENN’S CREEK WELDING & MANUFACTURING Contact: Ben Oberholtzer 1340 Broadway Rd. Winfield, PA 17889 (570) 837-1197 Fax: (570) 837-1197 www.pennscreekwelding.com

PINE BUSH EQUIPMENT COMPANY, INC. Contact: Jim Boniface 97 Route 302 Pine Bush, NY 12566 (845) 744-2006 Fax: (845) 744-2900 www.pbeinc.com PLEASANT VALLEY TREE FARM Contact: Larry Ulm 333 Gorsuch Rd. Hyndman, PA 15545

888-FIR-TREE www.pleasantvalleytreefarm.com pvtf@hotmail.com Appalachia’s finest Canaan and Douglas Fir Christmas Trees.

Near Cumberland, MD for easy access to Balt/DC/N. VA. PRODUCEPACKAGING.COM Contact: Cindy Zuhlke P.O. Box 609 Bangor, PA 18013-0609 (610) 588-7992

Fax: (610) 588-6245 www.producepackaging.com cindy@producepackaging.com Keeping it Green - Made of recycled PETE. Earth friendly packaging in a variety of sizes and styles. Clamshells: pints, quarts, half pints, 3 and 4 packs, utility packs, lettuce crispers. Trays, 10 and 15 pound box liners, corrugated, soaker pads.

www. cfgrower.com

PUTNAM PLASTICS INC. 255 So. Alex Rd. West Carrollton, OH 45449 (800) 457-3099 Fax: (937) 866-9365 packaging@putnamfarm.com www.putnamfarm.com Roadside and farm market packaging solutions for any season.

QUALITY MULCH PRODUCTS Ephrata, PA 17522 (717) 738-1312 QUICK INDUSTRIES, INC. 2728 Erie Dr. Weedsport, NY 13166 (800) 356-7354 Fax: (315) 834-9220 www.quickstring.com sales@quickstring.com Quick String is a time saving string dispenser that can clip to your belt or the wall and allow you to dispense and cut with one hand. The tub will hold twine, string, or plastic tying ribbon in 1/2 lb. balls, spools, or rolls.

RAIN-FLO IRRIGATION LLC East Earl, PA 17519 (717) 445-3000

RANDALL IMPLEMENTS Contact: Wes Ostrander St. Hwy 5s Fultonville, NY 12072 (518) 853-4500 Fax: (518) 853-3917 www.randallimpls.com randall@telenet.net Case IH, Kubota, Claas, Kuhn, Knight, Husky, Large selection of used on hand

ROBERT MARVEL PLASTIC MULCH Contact: Tara Marvel 2425 Horseshoe Pike Annville, PA 17003 (800) 478-2214 Fax: (717) 838-0978 www.robertmarvel.com info@robertmarvel.com Your source for all your plastic mulch equipment and drip irrigation needs!

ROOTMAKER PRODUCTS COMPANY, LLC Contact: Wayne Hinton P.O. Box 14553 Huntsville, AL 35815 (800) 824-3941 Fax: (256) 882-0423 www.rootmaker.com sales@rootmaker.com RootMakers containers are designed to create fibrous, noncircling root systems horizontally and vertically at all phases of production to equip plants for transplanting success. A fibrous root system means greater efficiency of water and nutrient absorption.

RUPP SEEDS, INC. 17919 County Rd. B Wauseon, OH 43567 (800) 700-1199 Fax: (419) 337-5491 www.ruppseeds.com info@ruppseeds.com From asparagus to zucchini with everything in between for professional growers of any size and with over 1,100 vegetable varieties from all the major vegetable breeders. Rupp Seeds is uniquely able to help farm families feed their friends and neighbors at home and around the world.

SALEM FARM SUPPLY, INC. 5109 State Rte. 22 Salem, NY 12865 (800) 999-3276 www.salemfarmsupply.com SANTAS WHOLESALE SUPPLY Contact: Barbara Jeske N9678 N. Summit Lane Summit Lake, WI 54485 (715) 275-4188 Fax: (715) 275-5052 www.santasupplies.com rbjeske@newnorth.net Our inventory includes ribbon, wreath making supplies, wreath decorations, Halloween Items, Silks.

SATCH SALES 63 Broadway Menands, NY 12204 (518) 426-5002

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Grafted d threee yearr old d containerr grown n - nicee size Thirtyy varietiess availablee - calll forr brochure Freee shippingg - onlyy $11.500 perr tree KelleyGreen n Nursery Paull Ferretti-saless rep 843-832-15000 office 8443-814-17577 cell 843-695-07944 fax pauljferretti@bellsouth.net

Page 13 - Section A • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • October 2012

PRODUCE PROMOTIONS Contact: Karla Wise 2811 U.S. 31 Plymouth, IN 46563 (574) 784-2188 Fax: (574) 784-2468 superbservice@mchsi.com www.producepromotions.com Eye catching preprinted signage to help bring the customers to your farm market! We offer many designs in 10-foot feather flags, 3x8-foot banners, slipover poly marketeers, road signs, postcards, balloons, so much more!

October 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • Section A - Page 14

SEED E-Z SEEDER, INC. Contact: Marlynn Tesch 1640 15th St. Baraboo, WI 53913 (800) 448-9371 Fax: (608) 355-2097 www.sezsdr.com tesch@sezsdr.com Greenhouse Equipment, Vacuum seeder, dibble boards germination chamber, plug poppers, affordable, fast, easy, and accurate!

SMALL FARM WORKS Contact: John Hendrickson N1749 Yerges Rd. Reeseville, WI 53579 (920) 927-7362 www.smallfarmworks.com smallfarmworks@tds.net Home of the paper chain pot transplanting system: a unique and efficient means to transplant vegetables, herbs and flowers without kneeling, crawling or stooping. Put over 250 plants in the ground in a minute. See the video on our website.

SOIL TECHNOLOGIES CORP. Contact: Steve Nichols 2103 185th St. Fairfield, IA 52556 (800)-221-7645 Ext 105 Fax: (641) 472-6189 info@soiltechcorp.com www.soiltechcorp.com Soil Technologies Corp. is a pioneer in the development of minimum-risk products for horticulture and ornamental growers.

Since 1983, we have supplied our unique bio-pesticides and

soil conditioners to nurseries, landscapers, and horticulture professionals. Our products include all-natural weed controls, soil conditioners, insect controls, fungicides, bio-fertilizers, and animal repellents. These specialty products have been field proven in thousands of applications and are university tested for efficacy.

STOKES LADDERS, INC. Contact: Greg Panella P.O. Box 445 Kelseyville, CA 95451 (707) 279-4306 Fax: (707) 279-2232 www.stokesladders.com info@stokesladders.com Stokes Ladders manufacturers the top-of-the-line tripod ladders for professional tree-fruit growers and landscapers as well as the back yard gardener.

Built for years of trouble-free use. Made in the USA. STOKES SEEDS INC. Box 548 Buffalo, NY 14240-0548 (800) 263-7233 Fax: (888) 834-3334 www.stokeseeds.com stokes@stokesseeds.com Supplier of high quality vegetable seed since 1881. A sales team of 18 professionals research and evaluate trials year round for the newest and best. Their knowledge assists growers to

plant the most productive crop possible.

SUPERIOR FRUIT EQUIPMENT Contact: Jeff Martin 200 S. Columbia St. Wenatchee, WA 98801 (509) 662-6065 Fax: (509) 662-1661 www.sfequip.com sales@sfequip.com Superior Fruit Equipment is the manufacturer of Hickok and

VACA Pruning Tools and Wells & Wade Harvest Equipment.

We also supply the professional fruit industry with Fanno & Silky Saws, ARS Pruning Tools and Manzana Clippers.

TALLMAN LADDERS, INC. Hood River, OR 87031 (541) 386-2733 TERROIR SEEDS LLC Contact: Cindy Scott

P.O. Box 4995 Chino Valley, AZ 86323 (888) 878-5247 Fax: (888) 878-5247 www.underwoodgardens.com seeds@underwoodgardens.com THOMAS BROS. EQUIPMENT SALES INC. Contact: Eddie Thomas 41764 Red Arrow Hwy. Paw Paw, MI 49679 (269) 657-3735

Fax: (269) 657-2110 Specializing in “out of the ordinary” fruit & vegetable equipment: sprayers, perfect mowers, flail choppers, Howard & Maschio Tillers, Lanco row mulchers, Vicon spreaders, plants, mulch layers, plastic lifters, box rotators, roundup applicators - Plus more!

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Is our newest publication. Started in 2011 to serve an important and growing segment of horticulture, this newspaper is targeted at businesses active in commercial scale growing and winemaking in the United States. In addition to a six times a year mailing, a searchable version is available to our online readers.

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TRADE SHOWS

Lee Publications produces trade shows, both regionally and nationally for each of the markets listed above. Go to our website at www.leepub.com for more information or call 800-218-5586.

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TOKENS DIRECT Contact: Joe Saylor 2851 Massachusetts Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45225 (513) 354-3405 Fax: (513) 681-5604 www.tokensdirect.com Metal tokens reduce control problems. They’re re-useable, countable on high speed counters and eliminate waste generated by paper tickets. Tokens are customizable with logo, website and phone. Stock tokens ship in 24 hours. Custom tokens take 2 weeks.

TRICKL-EEZ COMPANY Contact: Sandra Nye 4266 Hollywood Rd. St. Joseph, MI 49085 (269) 429-8200 Fax: (269) 429-6669 www.trickl-eez.com info@trickl-eez.com Irrigation specialists since 1973.

Distributor for all major irrigation manufacturers. Call for free catalog.

VALLEY PRODUCE SUPPLY Contact: Brian or Michael 5457 Swope Rd. Dayton, VA 22821 (540) 879-2308

Fax: (540) 879-2309 We sell produce & flower growing supplies, drip irrigation, plastic mulch, T-Tape, greenhouses, greenhouse supplies, Dillen Pots, baskets & supplies.

(802) 223-6049 Fax: (802) 223-9028 www.vermontcompost.com jennifer@vermontcompost.com Makers of living media for organic growers.

VANTAGE PARTNERS Contact: Alan Fann 386 E Plaza Dr. Mooresville, NC 28115 (704) 871-8700 Fax: (704) 871-9700 www.vp-geos.com alan@vp-geos.com Manufacturer & distributor of woven & non-woven geotextile fabrics. Complete line of grass seed & fertilizer, erosion control products and silt fence. Nursery ground cover fabric.

VIS SEED COMPANY, INC. Contact: Hans J. Vis P.O. Box 661953 Arcadia, CA 91066-1953 (626) 445-1233 Fax: (626) 445-3779 www.visseed.com info@visseed.com Family owned and operated since 1984. Seeds for bedding plants, vegetables and herbs.

Young plants, plugs, liners and seedlings. Contact us for additional information.

VERMONT COMPOST COMPANY Contact: Jennifer Whitman 1996 Main St. Montpelier, VT 05602

VANTAGE PARTNERS 386 East Plaza Drive, Mooresville, NC 28115 (704) 871-8700 • (704) 871-9700 Fax www.vp-geos.com • alan@vp-geos.com

woven & nonwoven

Textile Solutions

• Ground Cover • Erosion Blankets • Silt Fence • Metal and Wood Posts • Erosion Waddles • Sand Bags • Grass Seed and Fertilizer • Fanntum Containers • Coconut Fiber Plantable Containers

Page 15 - Section A • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • October 2012

• Since 1964 • Specializing in Trade Publications, Trade Shows, Commercial Printing & Mailing Services

October 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • Section A - Page 16

Cause marketing opportunities: GleanNY, donating food from farms to New York’s hungry

by Rebecca J. Schuelke Staehr, Michael P. Hoffmann and Miguel I. Gómez, Cornell University Cause marketing has gained popularity in recent years in the United States. Cause marketing connects your business

with a cause, which is typically linked to a notfor-profit organization.

The benefits of employing cause marketing in your business strategy are twofold. One, you are being helpful and working for the common good in

your community, and two, your business is benefiting economically.

Economic benefits can include exposure to the public and increases in performance and productivity. Cause marketing can even produce

benefits to a business’ bottom line. In other words, the benefits of cause marketing for a business may include improved customer relations, positive public relations, additional marketing opportunities, and

making more money.

But, what is the relevance of cause marketing to New York State farmers? Cause marketing is quite relevant, particularly considering hunger among disadvan-

Marketing A17

BUYER’S S GUIDEE COMPANY Y LISTINGS VITAMIN INSTITUTE Contact: Patrisha Thomson 12610 Saticoy St., South North Hollywood, CA 91605 (800) 441-8482 Fax: (818) 766-8482 www.SUPERthrive.com info@superthrive.com SUPERthrive, a highly concentrated solution of 50 vitaminshormones, improves growth in all plant and tree applications. It does not take the place of fertilizer as it contains no minerals.

Application may be combined, such as when irrigating or foliar-feeding.

W.H. MILIKOWSKI Contact: Lori Coughlin 10 Middle River Drive Stafford Springs, CT 06076 (860) 684-1595 x 103 Fax: (860) 684-3022 www.whmilikowski.com lcoughlin@whmilikowski.com

WAFLER NURSERY Contact: Bill Pitts - Susan Wafler 10748 Slaght Rd. Wolcott, NY 14590 (315) 594-2399 Fax: (315) 594-8829

www.waflernursery.com info@waflernursery.com Specializing in quality apple, cherry, and pear fruit trees on dwarfing and semi-dwarf rootstocks. Also carry orchard supplies and Pica Hand Pruners.

WARP’S FLEX-O-GLASS GREENHOUSE FILMS Contact: Rick Hannigan 4647 W. Augusta Blvd.

Chicago, IL 60651 (773) 261-5200 x 222 Fax: (773) 261-5204 www.warpbros.com greenhouse@warps.com Warp’s has been developing and manufacturing quality greenhouse coverings since 1924.

WELLMASTER CARTS Contact: Doug White 1494 Bell Mill Rd. Tillsonburg, ONT N4G 4J1 (519) 688-0500 Fax:(519) 688-0563 www.wellmaster.ca carts@wellmaster.ca Carts, Benches, Trailer, Four Wheel Steer Wagons, Customer Service Carts, Shopping Carts, Display Carts.

WESSELS FARMS Contact: Ed Fairweather / Sue Petak 94 Bull Rd.

Otisville, NY 10963 (845) 386-5681 Fax: (845)386-8752 www.wesselsfarms.com ed@wesselsfarms.com Supplier of the best plugs, plantn-ship, finished annuals, hanging baskets, perennials, specialty annuals, summer annuals, fall mums, cuttings, finished and Poinsettas. Delivery or pick up.

HERB PLUGS

Over 100 varieties of Organically Grown Herb Cell Packs

FARM-RITE, INC. 122 Old Cohansey Rd. Shiloh, NJ 08353 800-752-6373 www.farm-rite.com STANTON EQUIPMENT 105 South Main St. East Windsor, CT 06088 860-623-8296 800-842-8968 Outside CT

HINES EQUIPMENT US Route 22, Box 5 Cresson, PA 16630 814-886-4183

ELDER SALES & SERVICE 4488 Greenville Sandy Lake Stoneboro, PA 16153 724-376-3740

Hillcrest Nursery Inc. 21029 Gunpowder Rd. Millers, MD 21102

(800) 452-4032 www.hillcrestnursery.com

taged communities in the state. The United States has long been known as a land of plenty - and paradoxically, a nation where hunger continues to plague the population. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that 14.7 percent of the population, or 17.4 million households, were food insecure in 2009 (i.e., households that were, at times, uncertain of having, or unable to acquire, enough food for all of the household members because they had insufficient money and other resources for food). Many New York State residents

also experience food insecurity, although at a somewhat lesser rate than the national average. The USDA estimated in 2009 that 12.9 percent of New York State households were food insecure.

While food insecure individuals are many, large amounts of food are wasted at different segments along the supply chain. The USDA Economic Research Service estimates that nearly a third of the total edible food available for human consumption in the United State is lost each year. Food waste is higher among perishable products, including

fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, grain products, and sweeteners, which ironically could contribute to improve the nutritional status of food insecure people.

A small percentage of unharvested crops, representing thousands and sometimes millions of tons of food, may be fit for human consumption but is left in fields due to such issues as the lack of market for the crop, cosmetic blemishes, mechanical harvesting that leaves behind some crop, and other factors.

Past USDA’s Economic Research Service estimates indicated that each year

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in the United States about 6 to 7 percent of planted acreage for human consumption is not harvested. The loss of these nutritious products could be eliminated or greatly reduced by incorporating cause marketing, through gleaning, as part of your business’ overall marketing strategy.

GleanNY: An opportunity to put cause marketing in practice Gleaning is an ancient practice, dating from biblical times and conducted beyond through the medieval feudal system, whereby farmers and large landowners were encouraged or re-

ALEXANDER EQUIPMENT CO. 3266 Buffalo St. Alexander, NY 14005 585-591-2955

COLUMBIA TRACTOR 841 Route 9H Claverack, NY 12513 518-828-1781

JONES FARM SUPPLY 39 Clinton St. Gouverneur, NY 13642 315-287-3210

See all the reasons to choose Bush Hog Trail Series® utility vehicles at your local dealer.

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TRI-COUNTY SUPPLY 12069 Olean Road (Rt. 16) Chaffee, NY 14039 716-496-8859

OESCO, INC. 8 Ashfield Road on Route 116 Conway, MA 01341 413-369-4335 800-634-5557 www.oescoinc.com info@oescoinc.com

RAYMOND G HARVEY FARM EQUIP. 1251 Bangor Road Dover Foxcroft, ME 04426 207-564-7561

BUSH HOG, L.L.C. • P.O. Box 1039 • Selma, AL 36702-1039 (334) 874-2700 • www.bushhog.com

R.S. OSGOOD & SONS Route 2 East Dixfield, ME 04227 207-645-4934 www.rsosgood.com

quired by law to allow the poor to gather crops in the field after the harvest. In contemporary times, gleaning generally refers to collecting food from what is left in the fields after harvest, and donating the goods to food banks or pantries that service the poor and needy. Gleaning in modern times may also refer to farmfood donations out of farmers’ packing lines and storage houses. Indeed, according to American Farm Bureau, farmers in New York State donated about 3.6 million pounds to food banks in 2009. New York State leads the nation in farm donations to food banks.

So, if you are a New York farmer, do you occasionally find your farm has edible fruit and vegetables that can’t be sold? Have you considered donating your produce to a food bank?

GleanNY is a new collaborative effort to increase donated food from farms to needy and hungry people across the state.

GleanNY is a partnership of New York farmers and organizations working to increase the amount of food donated directly from farms to those in need. The partnership encourages the donation of produce that wouldn’t otherwise be harvested or sold — food that would be culled due to cosmetic blemishes, irregular size, lack of market or other reasons. The only requirement to participate is that the donated produce must be food-safe and unspoiled.

Produce does not have to be washed, graded, or packaged as for retail distribution.

How does it work?

Food banks are on the road every day, picking up donations from stores, food processors, warehouses and other institutions.

Their trucks can stop by your

farm to pick up product.

In fact a food bank truck may already be driving by your farm! In some cases, food banks can supply field crates. Otherwise, field crates can be returned to your farm once product is delivered to the food bank.

If you have produce to donate, you can call your closest food bank to make arrangements.

Like farmers, food banks want to move produce quickly and pickup can often be arranged for the same day. When a donation is too small, food banks work with local pantries to coordinate the pickup or delivery of food.

And what are the incentives for farmers to participate in GleanNY? In addition to contributing to a good cause, the benefits of cause marketing from gleaning are evident from a business perspective. Food banks sometimes have funds available to reimburse the farmers for the cost of gleaning activities. In addition, food banks generally provide receipts and donations may be tax deductible.

Therefore, if you are a farmer, check with your accountant to find out if the donation meets the conditions for a tax deduction! And do not forget to inquire about funding when you contact the food bank. Get started this season!

For information about donating, call the Food Bank Association of New York State at 518433-4505.

“Smart Marketing” is a marketing newsletter for extension publication in local newsletters and for placement in local media.

It reviews elements critical to successful marketing in the food and agricultural industry. Past articles are available at http://marketingpwt.ae m.cor nell.edu/publications.html.

Page 17 - Section A • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • October 2012

Marketing from A16

October 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • Section A - Page 18

Harnessing the best potential for roadside signs

by Emily Enger Everyone has driven past a roadside sign advertising a small niche business or local farmers market.

Sometimes those signs intrigue a driver enough to stop.

But homemade signs tend to be difficult for drivers to read or contain confusing directions and, in our focused, fastpaced society, fewer customers feel stopping is worth the hassle.

This segment of lost

“impulse stoppers” or tourists. “It picks up in the fall, certainly, but most of my customers are regulars or people coming intending to stop,” he says. “My road signs simply provide a reminder that I’m here.”

Can rural businesses reposess that impulse traffic? Should they want to?

Charlie Touchette, Executive Director of the North American Farmers Direct Marketing Associa-

their signs’ potential, however. First priorities, he claims, should be placement and frequency. “Give people some warning but be within three to four turns of your business at least.”

Touchette cautions that placing signs too far away from a business would be ineffective. “People are rarely willing to drive more than two or so turns out of their way.”

Once farmers have circled a nearby radius to

Multiple signs stacked at Sand Flats Orchard to be posted later as the Hoffman’s prepare for the fall season.

Placement of signs is highly important. This sign is directly on the proper turn to assure out-of-towners that this is the correct road. Due to its large size, drivers would have seen the sign from a distance, plus it is the third Sand Flats sign on this road, so drivers received plenty of warning, as well.

business is a rather large target audience that growers and farmers can utilize to increase their average customer base. Jim Hoffman uses roadside signs to advertise his farm, Sand Flats Orchard, an apple orchard, greenhouse and bakery located in Fonda, NY. Hoffman mourns that less than five percent of his customers are so-called

tion, thinks they should. In the face of modern systems of marketing, Touchette is quick to caution against sacrificing one target audience for the convenience of another.

“Not everyone has facebook and twitter,” he reminds. “[to assume that] would be a mistake.”

Touchette does have a few tips and strategies to help farmers better utilize

place signs, the next key is to place them often.

“The more frequency, the better,” recommends Touchette. “Every sign breaks a [potential customer’s] will each time.”

For Hoffman, this advice is already applied.

Hoffman posts three signs along each route leading to his orchard.

He starts with two small signs as hints, which cumulate to one of his sig-

nature two foot apple signs placed directly at the turn customer’s should take. The apple signs are simple, with just his business name and an arrow directing customers in the proper direction. Because the signs are targeting outof-town drivers, an address or other specifics are futile and simplicity is the focus instead.

Hoffman employs general marketing wisdom with his signs, such as a consistent logo (in his case, an apple), big lettering and simple phrases, strategies with which Touchette concurs. But Touchette continues on to express concern at equating roadside signs with advertising billboards. “Advertising is not related to impulse; advertising is related to people being conscious of what they intend to buy. [Farmers] should think of what they’re doing as communication or outreach.”

Hoffman recognizes this difference; he is also quick to acknowledge that his advertisements in local papers provide

much more traffic. But he doesn’t intend to give up on attracting tourists, who remain a hope for increased business in an otherwise consistent industry. In his orchard’s history, he has made changes that attempt to reach out instead of just advertize to impulse stoppers. For example, his road signs now hold a shingle boasting cider donuts. Where many tourists wouldn’t have the need to buy a bushel of apples, a brief stop to purchase fresh donuts for their drive through the beautiful countryside may be an angle to

bring them in.

This adjustment in his business is one that Hoffman is more than willing to employ.

“It’s not about growing apples,” Hoffman confesses. “It’s about getting [people] in the door. It takes a long time to grow a customer base; marketing is certainly part of that. You can’t stay in farming if you can’t market.” Far from resentful of these practical adjustments, Hoffman recounts with a smile, “A wise man once told me, ‘Anybody can grow apples; it takes a genius to sell them.’”

Affiliated with Bassett Healthcare One Atwell Road Cooperstown, N Y 13326 607-547-6023 800-343-7527 jcarrabba@nycamh.com

In an emergency, CPR and AEDs can help

by Anna Meyerhoff, The New York Center for Agricultural Medicine & Health - NYCAMH What would you do if someone on the farm were ill or injured? It’s important to talk with your workers about what to do in an emergency and have a plan. Being prepared and having trained workers can improve your chances of a good outcome in an emergency. It’s also important to have key staff

trained in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) so that they can act quickly to help in an emergency. CPR is an emergency procedure that is used when someone’s heart has stopped beating or if they are no longer breathing.

The first 4 to 6 minutes are critical in helping the victim. If oxygen and blood are not circulating through the victim’s body, they will die.

A person delivering CPR

keeps the victim’s brain alive until emergency medical help arrives.

CPR will not usually revive a person, but it keeps circulation going to the brain and other vital organs so that they can be resuscitated when the emergency responders arrive.

What should you do if you see someone suddenly collapse and you haven’t been trained in CPR? If no one is around to help, you may be able to provide hands only CPR. Always make sure the scene is safe, call 911, then push hard and fast on the center of the chest until trained help takes over. The 911 dispatcher may be able to assist you over the phone. For more information, visit the American Heart Associ-

ation’s Hands Only CPR website: www. heart.org/handsonlycpr.

Although immediate care given by the first responder can make the difference between life and death in an emergency, advanced medical care is also necessary. In all serious emergencies, always call 911 before giving CPR or first aid in order to get help on the way as soon as possible. In many rural areas, it could take 20 to 30 minutes or more for an ambulance to arrive on the scene.

In addition to CPR, another important lifesaving tool is an automated external defibrillator, or AED. There are AEDs located in many public buildings now, and AEDs are becoming even more common as

time goes on. An AED uses sensor pads attached to the victim’s torso to analyze the heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, delivers an electrical shock to the heart. AEDs are very simple to use. They use voice prompts to tell the first responder what to do. If needed, the AED can deliver a shock to the victim in order to get their heart to beat properly. Calling for help, performing CPR and using an AED will give the victim a better chance of survival.

Remember, having a plan and being prepared may mean the difference between life and death for the victim, and performing CPR could help save a coworker, friend, or family member. Take time to learn these important skills!

NYCAMH offers services that can help you prevent and be ready for an emergency situation on the farm. We receive grant funding from the New York State Department of Health to provide free on-farm emergency response training.

We offer fire extinguisher and fire safety training, and we can certify farmers and workers in first aid and CPR through the American Heart Association. All these services are available at no cost in English and Spanish.

Please contact me by calling 800-343-7527, ext 291 or e-mail ameye rh o f f @ n y c a m h . c o m .

NYCAMH, a program of Bassett Healthcare Network, is enhancing agricultural and rural health by preventing and treating occupational injury and illness.

FNGLA, OFA, and PLANET announce educational partnership ORLANDO, FL — The Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA) is pleased to announce OFA — The Association of Horticulture Professionals and The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) are both joining FNGLA as partners to plan and promote the 2013 TPIE Short Course.

It will be held during FNGLA’s Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition (TPIE) on Jan. 23-25, 2013 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. In an ever-changing industry environment, FNGLA, OFA and PLANET

embrace the benefits of working together to deliver extraordinary educational opportunities for all of their members. This is a grand opportunity to offer an exciting venue and great industry resources designed to provide interiorscape professionals with critical take-away tools to make their businesses more successful.

FNGLA continues its administrative role of the TPIE Short Course and will handle logistical coordination and registration. OFA and PLANET will partic-

ipate directly in the program’s development and promotion. All three associations will have industry voices participating in the TPIE Short Course planning meetings.

About TPIE Produced by FNGLA, the Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition (TPIE) is an international tradeshow with an exhibit area of 200,000 square feet showcasing more than 400 exhibiting companies. TPIE offers foliage and tropical plant buyers the widest array of

sources for these plants and products.

TPIE offers educational opportunities via free trade show floor demonstrations and its top-notch educational program with sessions specifically geared to interiorscape professionals and business managers.

For more details on TPIE Short Course and the programs offered during the Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition (TPIE), Jan. 23-25, 2013, visit www.tpie.org.

USDA guarantees loan to support development of advanced biofuels production from energy grasses On Aug. 22, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a loan guarantee to Chemtex International, Inc., (Chemtex), to construct a 20 million gallon per year cellulosic ethanol refinery in Sampson County in eastern North Carolina. The project, a first-ofits-kind commercial facility in the mid Atlantic region, will help reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil, increase farm income, and create jobs in the region.

“Today’s announcement supports the Obama Administration’s ‘all-ofthe-above’ energy strategy to embrace alternative American-produced feedstocks that support our nation’s energy independence and provide jobs in rural areas,” said Vilsack. “At USDA we are focused on the production of renewable energy from a wide variety of non-food sources, including energy grasses. The facility we are announcing today will help create more than 300 jobs in North Carolina and is a perfect example of how producing home-grown energy is good for the economy and good for our energy future.”

The Chemtex facility is expected to create 65 full time jobs with estimated average salaries of more than $48,000 per year. An additional 250 indirect

jobs are also anticipated in areas such as feedstock supply, maintenance, and transportation.

Once operational, the facility is expected to convert 600,000 tons of energy grasses per year into an estimated 20 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol (advanced biofuel) using a proprietary enzymatic hydrolysis process. The plant will produce biofuel for eastern transportation markets using non-food biomass feedstocks. USDA, through its Rural Development Biorefinery Assistance Program (Section 9003 of the 2008 Farm Bill), approved a $99 million, 80 percent loan guarantee to finance the project. The loan guarantee approval is subject to conditions that Chemtex must meet prior to closing of the loan.

Sampson County and eastern North Carolina farmers will directly benefit through the sales of newly established energy grasses to the biorefinery. Chemtex is working with local farmers and producer organizations to begin growing energy grasses for the facility. About 30,000 acres will be required to supply the facility with sufficient feedstock.

In partnership with the Biofuels Center of North Carolina, Chemtex has identified nearby farmland that is cur-

rently growing Coastal Bermuda grass to manage swine lagoon effluent. Conversion from Coastal Bermuda to high yielding energy grasses, including miscanthus and switchgrass, will provide Chemtex a cost effective biomass feedstock for cellulosic ethanol production and area swine farmers with increased economic opportunity as well as the land stewardship benefits of enhanced effluent management.

In June of this year, Chemtex was awarded $3.9 million by the USDA, under its Biomass Crop Assistance Program, to support the establishment of over 4,000 acres of miscanthus and switchgrass across 11 counties in North Carolina. The feedstock will be part of the biomass supply for Chemtex’s facility. The net increased revenue to local growers is projected to be $4.5 million per year.

The announcement is part of a larger USDA effort to produce advanced biofuels in every region of the country.

USDA has funded eight additional biorefineries that are using feedstocks like agriculture residue, woody biomass, municipal solid waste, and algae in states such as, Michigan, Oregon, Florida, Nevada, and New Mexico.

USDA is also investing in research by coordinating with five regional re-

search centers to work on the science necessary to ensure profitable biofuels can be produced from a diverse range of feedstocks.

The Biorefinery Assistance Program (Section 9003 of the 2008 Farm Bill), administered by Rural Development’s Rural Business and Cooperative Service, is designed to financially assist with the commercial deployment of production technologies to produce advanced biofuels, and thereby increase the energy independence of the United States; promote resource conservation, public health, and the environment; diversify markets for agricultural and forestry products and agriculture waste material; create jobs and enhance the economic development of the rural economy.

Page 19 - Section A • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • October 2012

“SAFETY SAVVY”

October 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • Section A - Page 20

New fruit fly threatens fruit crops in Vermont

by Dr. Vern Grubinger, Extension Vegetable and Berry Specialist, University of Vermont A new fruit pest, the spotted wing drosophila (SWD), has arrived in Vermont.

This small fly feeds on many different cultivated and wild fruits but is a particular threat to soft fruits that ripen in the late summer and fall.

SWD is likely to be a significant problem in small fruits such as blueberries, fall raspberries and grapes as well as tree fruits including peaches and cherries. So far it appears that early season fruit such as strawberries and hard fruit such as apples will be less impacted, but more information is needed.

SWD was first spotted in southern Vermont and parts of New England in fall 2011 and in recent weeks it has become widespread across the state and the region.

With this pest being so new to the United States — it was first found in on the west coast in 2008 — little is known about how big an impact it will have and what management tactics will be most effective.

The scientific name for this invasive pest from Asia is Drosophila suzukii. It looks very similar to the fruit flies that typically feed on and fly around overripe fruit on a kitchen counter. However, unlike these

flies, it feeds on healthy, intact fruits as they ripen. Once a crop has finished fruiting, the flies move on to other crops.

To the naked eye, SWD is hard to tell apart from other species of small flies. A hand lens or microscope is needed to see its identifying features.

Like other fruit flies it is small, only onetwelfth to one-eighth inch long, but it has yellowish-brown coloration and prominent red eyes. The males have a dark spot near the edge of each of their clear wings (thus their common name). However, some other species of small flies also have spots on their wings, so SWD is a bit tricky to positively identify.

If you see fruit flies swarming in the evening around ripening fruit in the garden or on the farm that is a pretty good clue that you have SWD. To date, they have only been found outdoors. Fruit flies found indoors are likely to be a different species.

What makes this insect such a concern for farmers and gardeners is that the females have a saw-like egg laying structure, which they use to puncture firm, ripening fruit. Once deposited in the fruit, the eggs quickly hatch into small larvae that feed inside the fruit, causing discoloration and decay.

Sometimes these symp-

toms won’t show up until after harvest. In addition to the damage from larvae, infested fruit becomes susceptible to fungi and bacteria that cause softening and rot.

SWD has a short life cycle with many generations per year. After the larvae feed, they pupate and later emerge as adults ready to mate and lay more eggs. Thus, populations can build up over the summer and fall. It overwinters as an adult. Its ability to survive in Vermont is not known, but since it has overwintered successfully in Michigan, it is likely to be able to survive here, too.

Extension specialists suggest several tactics for managing this pest.

Timely harvest and sanitation are important to reduce local buildup of SWD populations. This means frequent picking of a crop to ensure ripe fruits are removed from the field as soon as possible and removing and destroying any old fruit remaining on stems.

Fine-mesh row covers

may be able to exclude the pest if placed over a crop before any fruit starts to ripen, but this technique needs field research to prove that it works well enough to justify the expense. Certain insecticides will kill SWD, but frequent spraying is needed to adequately protect a fruit crop during the harvest period.

Insecticides must be used according to the label, which often includes a lengthy waiting period until harvest can resume after spraying. For home gardeners and organic growers, alternating sprays of two natural insecticides can protect fruit if the sprays are applied before the insects lay eggs in the fruit.

Both spinosad and pyrethrins have a short waiting period and are available in formulations allowed for organic production. Keep in mind that overuse of an insecticide can cause the target pest to develop resistance to it. Use of any insecticide also poses risks to honey-

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For more information check out these four factsheets developed by Penn State University Extension: http://extension.psu.edu/vegetablefruit/blog/2012/spotted-wing-drosophilafact-sheets-completedand-online

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by Jim Riddle, University of Minnesota Having trouble understanding the requirements for organic certification?

If so, you’re not alone! This overview is intended to provide an understandable introduction to the National Organic Program regulation and certification requirements.

The National Organic Program Final Rule (NOP) was developed by the USDA to implement the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA). The NOP is based on recommendations of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), which was appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture to provide advice to implement OFPA and to review substances allowed in organic production and handling.

The USDA issued the first proposed rule in December, 1997. That proposed set of standards would have allowed genetic engineering, irradiation, sewage sludge, antibiotics, re-feeding of animal by-products, and other practices long prohibited in organic agriculture. That proposal received 275,603 comments, and was withdrawn.

The second proposed rule was issued in March, 2000. It was much more consistent with existing organic standards than the first proposed rule.

It received about 40,000 comments, and served as the basis for the “Final Rule,” issued in December 2000.

The Final Rule contains an extensive list of definitions, organic production and processing standards, and the “National List” of allowed synthetic and prohibited natural substances. It also contains labeling, certification, accreditation, enforcement, and testing requirements. The regulation went into effect on October 21, 2002. The text of the rule, along with policy statements, program updates, a list of accredited certifying agents, complaint procedures, and other related information can be found at www.ams. usda.gov/nop.

Under the regulation, any agricultural product can be produced using organic methods. The NOP covers all agricultural products labeled and sold as “organic” or “organically produced.”

The rule covers organic vegetable growers, orchardists, livestock producers, ranchers, processors, and handlers. Parts of the regulation even apply to retailers. It is good for organic operators to understand the requirements for other sectors, since these may affect parts of their operation.

While the NOP regulation is relatively new, organic standards and certification have existed in the United States since the mid-1970s, beginning with California Certified Organic Farmers, Oregon Tilth, the Organic Growers and Buyers Association (MN), and the Northeast Organic Farming Association (Northeast). As the markets for organic products grew, so did the number of organic certification agencies. Though the standards of the different agencies, and the states which defined “organic” through legislation, were similar, there were differences. These differences sometimes re-

sulted in trade difficulties and disputes between regions over whose standards were more “organic.”

OFPA was passed by Congress in 1990 to begin the process of resolving the differences and establishing one set of national standards. Those standards are now in place. All certifiers who operate in the U.S., and all certifiers who certify products sold as “organic” in the U.S., must follow the NOP, and they must be accredited by the USDA to show that they have the competence and freedom from conflict of interest to certify organic products.

“Organic production” is defined by the regulation as “a production system that is managed … to respond to sitespecific conditions by integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.”

In simplified terms, the National Organic Program standards for crop farms are as follows: • 3 years (36 months prior to harvest) with no application of prohibited materials (no synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or GMOs) prior to certification; • distinct, defined boundaries for the operation; • proactive steps to prevent contamination from adjoining land uses; • implementation of an Organic System Plan, with proactive fertility management systems; conservation measures; and environmentally sound manure, weed, disease, and pest management practices; • monitoring of the operation’s management practices to assure compliance; • use of natural inputs and/or approved synthetic substances on the National List, provided that proactive management practices are implemented prior to use of approved inputs; • no use of prohibited substances; • no use of genetically engineered organisms (GMOs), defined in the rule as “excluded methods”; • no use of sewage sludge or irradiation; • use of organic seeds, when commercially available (must not use seeds treated with prohibited synthetic materials, such as fungicides); • use of organic seedlings for annual crops; • restrictions on the use of raw manure and compost; • must maintain or improve the physical, chemical, and biological condition of the soil, minimize soil erosion, and implement soil building crop rotations; • fertility management must not contaminate crops, soil, or water with plant nutrients, pathogens, heavy metals, or prohibited substances; • maintenance of buffer zones, depending on risk of contamination; • prevent commingling on split operations (the entire farm does not have to be converted to organic production, provided that sufficient measures are in place to segregate organic from nonorganic crops and production inputs); • no field burning to dispose of crop residues (may only burn to suppress disease or stimulate seed germination

– flame weeding is allowed); and • no residues of prohibited substances exceeding 5 percent of the EPA tolerance (certifier may require residue analysis if there is reason to believe that a crop has come in contact with prohibited substances or was produced using GMOs).

All operations producing and/or selling organic products must keep records to verify compliance with the regulation.

Such records must: • be adapted to the particular operation; • fully disclose all activities and transactions of the certified operation in sufficient detail as to be readily understood and audited; • be maintained for at least five years beyond their creation; and • be sufficient to demonstrate compliance with the regulation. The operator must make the records available for inspection.

Organic System Plan forms are typically provided by certifying agents as part of the application process. The plans must be updated annually, and operators are required to notify their certifying agents of all changes to the operation which might affect the oper-

ation’s certification status. Organic operations must follow their Organic System Plans, and they must be inspected at least annually.

All producers and handlers who sell over $5000/year in organic products must be certified. Producers and handlers who sell under $5,000/year do not have to be certified, but they still have to follow the NOP. Non-certified organic producers can sell their products directly to customers or to retail stores, but their products cannot be used as organic ingredients or feed by other operations, and they cannot use the “USDA Organic” seal.

Though the NOP requirements are similar to previous organic standards, there are some significant differences, and there are areas of continued controversy, confusion, and clarification.

Despite the level of detail in the NOP, some interpretation is required for local variations and new conditions. It is always a good idea to check with certification agencies to get your questions answered, especially before purchasing or applying materials.

For more information on Organic Certification go to www.extension.org/organic_production Source: www.extension.org

Immature switchgrass could help cellulosic ethanol industry

by Ann Perry A gene that keeps switchgrass forever young could have far-reaching implications for the development of the plant as a biofuel crop, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists.

Inserting a specific gene called “corngrass” from corn into switchgrass essentially keeps the perennial grass in its juvenile form — a plant that doesn’t flower, doesn’t produce seeds, and doesn’t have a dormant growth phase. Because of these changes, the sugars making up the plant starch are more readily available for conversion into cellulosic ethanol.

According to Agricultural Research Service (ARS) geneticist Sarah Hake, the starch in these transgenic plants stays inside the stem because it isn’t needed elsewhere for nourishing flower buds and blossoms. As a result, starch levels can increase as much as 250 percent, which increases the sugars that can be fermented into ethanol.

Hake, director of the ARS Plant Gene Expression Center in Albany, CA, teamed with University of CaliforniaBerkeley plant geneticist George Chuck to conduct this investigation.

ARS is USDA’s chief intramural scientific research agency, and this work supports the USDA priority of developing new sources of bioenergy.

The scientists observed that the leaves in the transgenic switchgrass are not nearly as stiff as leaves in switchgrass cultivars that haven’t been modified. In addition, they determined that leaf lignin is slightly different in the transgenic switchgrass than leaf lignin in other plants. This could lead to new findings on how to break down

the sturdy lignin and release sugars for fermentation, a development that will be essential to the commercial production of cellulosic ethanol.

The researchers are now introducing DNA segments called genetic promoters that would “turn on” the expression of the corngrass gene just in above ground switchgrass shoots. This could help increase root mass development that otherwise would be inhibited by the gene. Hake and Chuck also suggest that developing nonflowering switchgrass varieties would eliminate the possibility of cross-pollination between transgenic switchgrass cultivars and other switchgrass cultivars.

Results from this work were published in 2011 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Page 21 - Section A • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • October 2012

An introduction to Organic Certification Requirements

October 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • Section A - Page 22

Seedway announces organizational changes in vegetable seed business Seedway has announced recent organizational changes in its vegetable seed business unit. Effective July 15, Dean Cotton assumed responsibility for vegetable seed sales, product line development and variety testing across Seedway’s entire market area. Dean is a 32 year veteran of the vegetable seed industry, joining Seedway in 1993 after managing various aspects of Agway’s vegetable seed business. Ken

Ludwig will manage wet seed product coordination and wholesale sales. Responsibility for grower sales management has been assigned to Roy Pearman in the northern sales region and Arlen Wood in the southern sales area.

Dennis Shoop continues to manage operations and Trent Aldous manages vegetable business customer service and administration as well as IT functions for all of Seedway.

Seedway offers one of the most comprehensive vegetable seed product lines in the industry, serving growers from locations in Elizabethtown, PA and Lakeland, FL with product research trials in Hershey, PA and Plant City, FL. Headquartered in Hall, NY, Seedway, LLC maintains locations in Trumansburg and Mecklenburg, NY, Shoreham, VT, Mifflinburg, Emmaus and Eliza-

bethtown in PA and Lakeland, FL. A full-line seed company, marketing farm and turf seed in fourteen Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states and vegetable seed from the U.S. Rocky Mountains to the east coast and in the southern provinces of Canada, Seedway, LLC is a subsidiary of GROWMARK, Inc., Bloomington, IL. For more information visit www.seedway.com.

known as home to the country’s oldest and largest horticultural showcase, the Philadelphia Flower Show.

Drawing more retail garden center owners - an important and targeted segment of the industry - as well as growers, designers and landscape professionals, will help broaden the exhibitor base. There are also plans to build show attendance by appealing to a wider geo-

graphical area in the lucrative mid-Atlantic market.

You’ll hear more as MAC Events moves ahead with plans to make PANTS 2013 a profitable event for all.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Kevin McLaughlin at 732-449-4004, x116 or Kevin@MacEvents.com .

PANTS moving to Philadelphia The Penn Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (PANTS) will take a big step up next year with a move to the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, a first-tier venue that will give the show high visibility in the industry’s critical East Coast markets.

Circle July 31-Aug. 1, 2013 on your calendar to be there when PANTS

ramps up its reputation as the show you just can’t miss.

MAC Events is moving quickly to make good on its commitment to position PANTS as a premier green industry trade show and conference. In the few weeks since the company joined the PLNA as producing partner, they have secured dates at a venue already well

UMass Extension’s Green School starts Oct. 31 Every two years, UMass Extension offers its popular Green School, a comprehensive 12-day certificate short course for Green Industry professionals taught by UMass Extension Specialists and University of Massachusetts faculty.

This year, Green School runs Oct. 31 - Dec. 12, 2012, twice weekly from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 265 Lakeside Ave., Marlborough, MA. This course will not be offered again until 2014.

Pre-registration is required, as space is limited! http://extension.umass.edu/landscape/education/umass-extensionsgreen-school Green School is designed for landscape professionals, lawn care special-

ists, arborists and other horticultural practitioners wishing to gain an understanding of plant care fundamentals and strategies and their relation to environmental quality. Green School attendees learn about sustainable methods of plant selection, plant maintenance, and pest and nutrient management which lay the foundation for environmentally-appropriate decision making. Through in-depth discussion of up-to-date techniques, participants develop an understanding of how proper management practices can minimize impact on precious natural resources, such as soil and water.

The curriculum, which emphasizes a systems-based approach to plant care, is based on current research and focuses on environmental stew-

ardship, Best Management Practices (BMPs) and integrated pest management (IPM).

Students choose a “specialty track” when registering.

Three specialty tracks are offered for the green industry: Landscape Management, Turf Management, and Arboriculture (specifically geared toward professional arborists).

The full schedule is online at http://extension.umass.edu/landscape/education/umass-extensionsgreen-school In addition, Green School is helpful for people preparing to take the following professional certification exams: • Massachusetts Certified Arborist (MCA) offered by the Massachusetts Arborist Association

• Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist (MCH) offered by the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association • Massachusetts Certified Landscape Professional (MCLP) offered by the Massachusetts Association of Landscape Professionals To register online or to print out a registration form, go to http://extension.umass.edu/landscape/education/umass-extensionsgreen-school Pre-registration is required, as space is limited. The deadline for applications is Oct. 24, 2012.

For more information or to have a registration form mailed, call UMass Extension at 413-545-0895.

No-till farming helps capture snow and soil water

by Ann Perry A smooth blanket of snow in the winter can help boost dryland crop productivity in the summer, and no-till management is one way to ensure that blanket coverage, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) research.

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) soil scientist David Huggins conducted studies to determine how standing crop residues affect snow accumulation and soil water levels across entire fields. ARS is USDA’s chief intramural scientific research agency, and this work supports the USDA priority of responding to climate change.

Huggins, who works at the ARS Land Management and Water Conservation Research Unit in Pullman, WA, carried out this investigation on two

neighboring farms. Both farms have the hilly topography typical of the Palouse region in eastern Washington. But much of one farm has been under continuous no-till management since 1999, while the fields on the other farm were conventionally tilled.

For two years, snow depths, density and soil water storage were measured manually at hundreds of points across the fields on both farms. Residue height at data collection points was also measured on the no-till fields.

Huggins found that standing wheat residue on the no-till farm significantly increased the amount and uniformity of snow cover across the entire field. Snow depths on the no-till field ranged from 4 to 39 inches, with an average depth of 11 inches, while snow

depths on the conventionally tilled field ranged from 0 to 56 inches, with an average depth of 8.5 inches.

The snow distribution pattern on the no-till farm made soil water distribution more uniform and increased soil water recharge rates there. The more uniform snow distribution under no-till was particularly apparent for ridge tops and steep south-facing slopes where there was typically 4 to 8 inches more snow than on conventionally tilled fields.

Huggins calculated that the greater storage of soil water in no-till systems could increase winter wheat yield potential by 13 bushels per acre on ridge tops, six bushels per acre on south facing slopes, and three bushels per acre in valleys. As a result, regional farmers could in-

crease their winter wheat profits by an average of $30 per acre and as much as $54 per ridge-top acre.

Producers affected by the 2012 drought might also benefit from using no-till to increase the amount and uniformity of snow cover on their fields. This would increase soil water recharge rates and soil moisture storage, which would facilitate the return of drought-stricken fields to their former productivity.

Results from this work were published in 2011 in Transactions of the ASABE.

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Page 23 - Section A • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • October 2012

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October 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • Section A - Page 24

GROWER

Section B

C H R I S TMA S S E CTI O N Now’s the time — get involved in Trees for Troops by the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation Trees for Troops, which provides free, farm-grown Christmas

Trees to armed forces members and their families in the U.S. and overseas, is off and running

for 2012. Now is a great time to join in on this worthwhile, rewarding cause. Last year, more

than 19,000 trees were delivered to bases in the U.S. and Middle East to thankful troops and mil-

Powers Tree Farm has always made wreaths for tree customers and their own retail lots.

But in the past few years, Powers Tree Farm has really grown in the wreath business. Now we have cold storage warehouses where we store and ship large quantities of wreaths. Wreaths are made in a variety of sizes from 6” rings to 60” rings. Offering both plain or mixed using Fraser, White Pine or Boxwood greenery. Also wreaths with cones and candle wreaths.

Specializing in Fraser Fir (Abies fraseri) trees known for great needle retention and great scent. The Fraser is one of the most popular trees on the market. Trees being harvested range from table tops to 14’ + trees. All are individual sized and graded so you get what you pay for.

Powers Tree Farm also offers Roping (garland) in a variety of sizes and mixes.

We make Fraser Fir, White Pine and Boxwood roping mixed or straight.

Roping comes in 20’ and 75’ lengths.

Roping is made fresh then stored in cold storage to preserve freshness. Roping and wreaths when delivered will be as fresh as when we make it.

D avid: 336.977.8585 5

Andy: 336.877.7722

296 6 Beee Treee Rd. Lansing,, NC C 28643 andy@powerstreefarm.com m

www.powerstreefarm.com

itary families, through the generosity of the Real Christmas Tree industry, consumers and corporate sponsors, including FedEx. Trees for Troops is important to our military families AND important for our industry. Research from the National Christmas Tree Association shows that more 20 million households reported an awareness of Trees for Troops, and that more than 2 million

households indicated they were influenced to purchase a real tree because of Trees for Troops. That is a strong statement on the positive values that prospective buyers associate with Trees for Troops and, through it, real Christmas Trees.

You can support Trees for Troops in a number of ways. You could donate trees through your

Troops B2

Premium Fraser Firs 7’ to 7-1/2’ 6’ to 6-1/2’ Also PREMIUM Douglas Fir, White Pine, Blue Spruce Call for Pricing or Appt. for Viewing

Tebbs Trees

984 Old Cement Rd., Muncy, PA 17756

570-940-0382

Page 1 - Section B • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • October 2012

Country Folks

October 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • Section B - Page 2

Troops from B1 from raffle tions each

Look how far we have come 2005 Trees Delivered 4,300 Trees Delivered Overseas 200 Participating States 17 Participating Farms 280 Trees for Troops Weekend Locations 0 Trees for Troops Weekend Trees Donated 0 Bases Receiving Trees (U.S. and Middle East) 5 FedEx Donated Miles 13,000

participating state or regional Christmas Tree association, host a trailer drop during Trees for Troops Weekend, donate money or collect donations from consumers at your farm or retail location, help locate local and national sponsors, and more. Details on the opportunities to help can be found on the Trees for Troops website (www.TreesForTroops.or g) or by contacting the headquarters staff at the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation.

What's coming up next? The Trees for Troops International

kick-off will be Nov. 20 at the Dull's Tree Farm in Thorntown, IN. Plans are to ship out more than 300 donated trees prior to Thanksgiving to USO destinations in and around Kuwait.

Trees for Troops Weekend is set for Nov. 30 Dec. 2, 2012. If you would like to host a trailer to collect donated trees, please sign up ASAP as this is a first come, first served opportunity.

The Trees for Troops online tool kit has plenty of great resources that can be downloaded from the newly redesigned website -

2011 19,229 460 28 750 31 5,856 69 60,375

6-year Overall 103,186 2,099 28 800 31 20,354 69 352,011

www.TreesForTroops.org . Please make sure you take advantage of the tools, which include: • Checklists for pickup locations • Sample press releases you can customize for your local newspaper/media • Recognition certificates you can print and give to those who go above and beyond • “Pin up” signs (new this year and easy to do) - just print the pinup forms and ask customers to buy one for $1. Customers can sign their name and display their support

the annual quilt to the jar collecmany of you do year (thank you!).

Here are some other ways you can help: • Join the Christmas

Troops B3

for Trees for Troops in your retail location.

Your help is needed to get the word out about this valuable program and the need to donate dollars in addition to trees. This year, the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation Trustees and staff are making major effort to ensure Trees for Troops is financially sustainable and can continue well into the future.

About $7 in donated dollars is needed for each tree that is delivered.

Every effort is helpful in meeting this goal,

Specials on Big Douglas and Fraser Fir! Premium Douglas Fir & Fraser Fir Christmas Trees Blue Ribbon Winners in State and National Competitions • “Table Tops” to 12’ Sizes Available • Consistent quality, consistent supply • Plantation visits welcomed • Write or call us for price list

Quaker State Plantations

Mark Zelazny 490 Grovania Dr. • Bloomsburg, PA 17815

Phone (570) 784-7522 • Fax (570) 784-7529 www.QUAKERSTATEPLANTATIONS.com

VERMONT GROWN BALSAM FIR & Balsam Fraser Cross 6’ - 9’ Excellent Quality & Full Density

MORZE TREE FARM

BIG SPRINGS NURSERY and TREE FARMS

567 PENN RD. • CANAAN, VT 05903

Call Rick Morze 802-266-3512

Specialist in Fraser Fir Christmas Trees • Quality Wreaths • Garland (Roping)

Phone: 360-978-4611 Cell: 360-561-8586 Fax: 360-357-6299 nnwchristmastrees@tds.net

• Fraser Fir • Bough Material by the Pound WE WELCOME YOUR INQUIRY PLEASE CALL OR WRITE WITH YOUR NEEDS Richard Calhoun rkcdoc@skybest.com

PO Box 878 Jefferson, NC 28640

Phone/Farm (336) 384-8733 Fax (336) 384-8734 Cell (336) 877-0386

by Sally Colby Tom and Kerry Dull started growing Christmas trees in 1985 with a planting of 200 Scotch pines. Since then, they’ve added trees; replanting and expanding their 25-acre choose-andcut business in Thorntown, IN. One of the Dulls’ main focuses throughout the year, and especially during the season, is safety.

“We have a rack full of saws,” said

Dull, “and we change the blades every year. There’s nothing more frustrating than using a bad saw. It costs, but in the long run, it’s good customer service.”

When customers arrive to choose and cut a tree, they park in a lot, then walk to the farmstead where no vehicles are allowed. As they come into the farmyard, visitors see a sign that’s a result of a 2011 Indiana law that focuses on agrotourism stating that con-

sumers accept some of the responsibility for liability. Dull sums up the bill: “This can be a dangerous thing to participate in, and we’ve taken every measure to make sure it’s as safe as possible for you, but you (as the customer) accept some of the responsibility.” Dull says the new law provides ease of mind for those considering adding agritourism as part of their farm operation. “The sign doesn’t take

away our responsibility to provide a safe place,” said Dull. “We have to continue to let the consumer know that there are risks, and by participating they accept that responsibility.”

The greeter asks if customer has visited the farm before, and if not, explains that the farm provides saws, carts to move trees from the field. As

Safety B4

Troops from B2 SPIRIT Foundation Trustees in seeking out local sponsorships from the people you do business with. It's hard to say no to such a great

program, and local sponsorships can be at any price point. Download the sponsorship form from the online tool kit to get started.

• Sell Trees for Troops bears (available through the online store at www.TreesForTroops.org ) at your gift shop.

Wholesale prices are

SALOMAA CHRISTMAS TREES Vermont Green Mountain Grown FRASER

available, and Trees for Troops receives $5 for each bear sold.

• If you know government employees, encourage them to direct a payroll donation to the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation through the Combined Federal Campaign

(CFC #12283).

• If you have family members whose employers offer matching gift programs (many larger companies do) - ask them to work with their companies to arrange a match for their donations. This is often han-

BALSAM

* Visits welcome * 90 acres of trees at this location * What you see is what you will get*

SPECIALS

3’ to 4’ Balsam Table tops $10 6’ to 8’ Fraser $20 Call for other possible “row run” prices

All Credit Cards Accepted: 802-533-7044 800-331-5955 salotree@myfairpoint.net www.salomaachristmastrees.com • www.vtchristmastrees.com

WANEK’S GRAVE BLANKETS & Cedar Logs ~ Family Owned Since 1950 ~

— wholesale — No Order Too Large or Small Available Decorated & Undecorated Please Call For Price List

609-226-8130

dled through the human resources department.

• If you know contacts with a major corporation that might be a potential corporate sponsor, e-mail the CSF staff (info@ TreesForTroops.org). We will make the “ask” - we just need the right person in the right company.

Lastly, as trees are being delivered to military bases, make sure you follow/like/retweet/pin Trees for Troops on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube to find all the wonderful messages of thanks that Trees for Troops receives. This helps enhance the visibility of Trees for Troops, and creates even more goodwill toward the Real Christmas Tree industry!

Greatt Pricess onn Wreathh Framess Forr Alll Yourr Christmass Needs!

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We Have Topiary Frames Too! Top Quality - Low Prices Say you saw this ad and receive a 5% discount

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Page 3 - Section B • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • October 2012

Safety and liability with choose-and-cut

October 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • Section B - Page 4

Safety from B3 people head to the field, they see signs that say ‘only tagged trees are available for cutting’ and pass at least two signs that say, ‘watch where you step, beware of stump holes and other natural hazards.’

“We’ve already been in the field and pre-tagged every tree that’s for sale,”

said Dull. “We color-code the trees — Scotch pines have a blue tag, white pines have a white tag and Canaan firs have a red tag so the customer knows at a glance what kind of tree it is. On the tag is the height and price, so before they cut it, they know how tall it’s going to be.” Dull says pre-tagging eliminates

issues of customers not understanding the true size and price of trees.

“Since we’ve gone to pre-tagging and pre-pricing trees in the field, the stumps are a lot closer to the ground than they used to be,” said Dull. “If someone goes to the field and sees a tree for $43, they’re going to cut it as

close to the ground as they can because it’s their tree. Before, when we measured the trees up here (at the barn), they might leave six or eight inches because it was still my tree.”

Dull says remaining stumps are ground after the season, and holes left by coyotes digging for vermin are filled

Balsam Fir

Christmas Wreaths All Sizes 8” - 84”

Also Brush, Swags, Grave Blankets Trailer Load Discounts

SUPREME WREATH COMPANY LIMITED Tracadie, New Brunswick, Canada E1X-IG4

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Visitors to Dull's Tree Farm are made aware of uneven steps through signage.

Photos courtesy of Dulls Tree Farm

One of the Dulls’ main focuses throughout the year, and especially during the season, is safety.

Our Trees have Grown, but our prices have Wilted!

Beautiful Mountain grown Douglas and Canaan fir Christmas Trees from Western Maryland.

Easy field access and near Balt/DC/ N. VA. Call or email for complete price list.

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as often as possible.

At the barn where trees are being processed, customers are asked to remain outside. Any buildings that have a step include a sign indicating that step, and if necessary, a handrail is provided. As part of overall management, Dull keeps the rows mowed and clean throughout the growing

season. “We mow probably more often than we need to, but that’s part of who we are,” said Dull. “We think our customers like to look out and see a nice, clean field.” That’s a safety as well as a marketing issue.” Customers can also dig trees, and those holes must be filled as soon as possible. “We don’t dig trees from

Beautifully Sheared Douglas and Fraser Firs #1 1/2 6-7 Douglas Fir $15.00

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where our choose and cut customers are cutting — we dig trees from a different part of the field.”

The farm is managed in sections, and each season, customers are directed to the section that is available for cutting. “This year, we’ll be selling from a particular section, and that’s the only place customers can go,” said Dull. “At the end of the year, if there are trees left in that section, if the tree is good, we’ll dig it and transplant it. We’ll cut and burn the trees that aren’t good, then clear the field and replant.”

Safety B6

Page 5 - Section B • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • October 2012

Safety from B4

As they come into the farmyard, visitors see a sign that’s a result of a 2011 Indiana law that focuses on agrotourism.

Christmas Trees Frasier Fir, Balsam Fir 6-9 Ft. Grade #1 or Better Minimum order 25

Pick up only Call Frank at 518-361-2728

Age

Per 100

Per 1000

Coloradoo Bluee Spruce 8-12" 12-18"

2-0 2-2

40.00 110.00

170.00 700.00

40.00 83.00 110.00

170.00 550.00 700.00

Norwayy Spruce 8-12" 12-18" 16-24"

2-0 2-1 2-2

Whitee Pine 8-14" 8-12" 12-18"

3-0 45.00 2-1 83.00 2-2 110.00 Alsoo Available

200.00 550.00 700.00

White Spruce, Serbian Spruce, Black Hills Spruce, Douglas Fir, Concolor Fir, Canaan Fir, Fraser Fir, Scotch Pine, Austrian Pine, Canadian Hemlock Bare-root Perennials & Deciduous also available

Please Call or Write for a Complete List

Garden Time 652 Quaker Road Glens Falls, NY 12804

www.gardentimeinc.com

Showvaker’s Quality Evergreens

HALABURA TREE FARMS 35 Dreher Rd. Orwigsburg, PA (Schuylkill Co.) 570-943-2137 office 570-943-7692 fax Douglas Fir Concolor Fir Hemlock Shade & Flowering Trees Available

Cut & B&B available • Reasonable Prices • Delivery Available

2012 SEASON SPECIAL 6’ to 8’ Douglas or Blue $16 Each All Premium Quality Evergreens

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CHRISTMAS TREES

See Our Website www.foothillfarmsinc.com For Special Deals, Price Lists & Order Forms.

Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir White Pine, Blue Spruce - Early Order Discount - Quantity Discount

Located in Columbia County, PA

Call 570-336-3117 Landscape Trees Also Available

Other Varieties Available Web site: qualityevergreens.com E-mail: info@qualityevergreens.com

Blue Spruce Serbian Spruce Frazier Fir

FOOTHILL FARMS -- CHRISTMAS TREES

2020 Garrett Rd. • Manchester, MD 21102

Call for Appt. to Visit

White Pine Norway Spruce Arborvitae

W

FRASER F IR Three Oaks S Limited

ESALE HOL

108 Bowman Rd. Newland, NC 28657 (828) 733-2662

eeoaksnursery.com www.thre jwwjr3@hughes.net • Jack Wiseman

J.C. HILL TREE FARMS, INC. www.jchilltreefarms.com

FIR - PINE - SPRUCE And SHADE TREES B&B and CUT TREES

Douglas Fir a Specialty Wholesale Only Trucking Available 570-943-2019 Day 570-943-2008 Fax

Jeff (J.C.) Hill 123 W. Rausch’s Rd. Orwigsburg, PA 17961

October 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • Section B - Page 6

Update on coring aerating injection method of applying compost to Christmas trees at Salo Farms

by Fred Salo, Salo Tree Farm The primary purpose of the “coring injection method of applying compost to Christmas trees” is to enhance soil health so that the soil in turn will continue to produce healthy looking trees. A farm producing healthy trees will be in a much better position to progress in the realm of

sustainable agriculture.

Our composting project is ongoing. Compost is in place among the trees in the trial blocks and the first year testing has been completed in the three trial areas. Because the same trees will be tested for three years, smaller sizes, which will not be harvested within three years, were chosen.

These “test trees” are all

numbered with the results entered in the computer for the three year comparison.

We chose John Vasko (‘JJ’) for testing. He is teacher certified and has worked several years on this farm as well as multiple years in vineyards in California and Chile.

It is too early to see any results from composting as far as tree growth. But

several notable events have occurred. The first one has to do with the compost. Some compost was sold this spring in our area, both in bulk and bagged products, that appear to have had some contaminants in it.

The contaminants apparently raised havoc with a few vegetable plants. The

Update B7

3 0 0 Acre s o f Qualit y Christma s Trees Douglas Fir - 3-12’ Fraser Fir - 5-10’ Blue Spruce - 5-10’ White Pine - 5-9’

Scotch Pine - 3-7’ Serbian Spruce - 8-11’ Norway Spruce - 8-12’ Concolor - 5-10’

Cut and B&B Trees • Block Sales Available

Safety from B5 Dull says by being aware of each year’s sales and the continuing trend, they can determine what to plant.

“That helps us figure out how many more to plant,” he said, “and how many pre-cut trees to bring in to meet that demand. Every year, we sell more trees than the year before. We’ve started to bring in trees from other farms because we can’t meet the demand.”

The family includes Dull and his wife Kerry, who started the farm, and now their son Lucas and wife Dana are interested in returning to the farm. The Dulls encouraged the young couple to work off the farm for a while before making the decision, but Dull says that Lucas and Dana came back recently and expressed interest in coming back sooner to help keep the farm moving forward. “We don’t do a fall business, but we could,” said Dana. “We’re also grain farmers with 1,900 acres of corn and soybeans so we’re busy harvesting in fall.”

Another potential liability issue is the horsedrawn wagons that carry visitors to the fields. Dull uses someone who works as an independent contractor and carries his own insurance.

When that person is on the farm with the team of horses, there’s another man on the ground to watch for people who might come too close to the horses, and someone on the wagon seat.

On the farm are several restored log cabins and a revamped barn.

One large cabin, the Stone Cabin Inn, serves as a bed-and-breakfast,

John Vasko (JJ) left and Greg Crown number the trees that are being used in the trial.

Photos by Fred Salo

and Dull says that that creates another liability issue. “There’s something going on in that building four days a week,” he said. “Kerry does dinners for groups, family reunions and retreats.” The Dulls won a

grant for refurbishing their barn through a contest sponsored by Campbell’s Soup Company. “The FFA Alumni Association was the workforce for that,” said Dull. “The top five votegetters got their barns

renovated.”

Christmas tree growers should check their state’s liability laws regarding agrotourism, and work with their insurance company to ensure adequate coverage.

LARGE SELECTION OF WREATH RINGS * RIBBON

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Treee Balers Netting Treee Stands Removall Bags Wreath h and d Garland d Machines Gloves

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Make Casertano Greenhouse your one stop shop for Wreaths & Roping Products this year!

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good news is our project used two suppliers, neither of whom was involved. Because the compost industry has evolved into having “producers”, so to speak, it is difficult to know all the different sources of materials that are coming from “upstream” to any given pro-

ducer. UVM labs tested our two composts for normal factors prior to our application. We recommend anyone adding anything to their trees should read the label as they sa,y but also test unlabeled items completely prior to an application. We are in process

of retesting our compost.

Weeds! Oh yes, this was a particularly active year.

The good news is weeds in

our compost blocks were very prolific, which removes my doubts that there could be any con-

taminants in our compost.

But this weed situation did add an unexpected dimension to the project.

The pictures show that one source of compost

Update B8

FALL SPECIAL

Dig-Your-Own Norway Spruce 10-15 ft tall $15.00 each

(Minimum Quantity - 50) Currently Taking Orders for Fall Digging Season Wholesale and Retail Evergreens

SHOWERS TREE FARM Aspers, PA • 717-677-6816 www.showerstreefarm.com

National Tree Company Douglass Fir Frasierr Firr n Fir Canaan Whitee Pine

6-7ftt 6-7ftt 6-7ftt 7-8ft

. . . . . . . .$17.50 . . . . . . . .$18.00 . . . . . . . .$18.00 . . . . . . . . .$15.00

o 9ftt Available Alll Sizess to

Live Trees Available Whitee Pine

5-6ftt . . . . . . . .$40.00

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It iss Betterr to o burn n a candle n cursee thee darkness than Hand dipped tapers • Slow Burning • Drip-less • Smokeless • Moderately scented • Natural waxes In addition to Paraffin, we offer natural wax option candles in True Bayberry, Beeswax, Palm Wax and Soy.

Also Available Storm candles — recycled wax • Soy candles • Display racks • Fire starters • Private label available • Reed diffusers • True Bayberry Candles, a Traditional Christmas Candle • Balsam Wood Reed Diffusers • Tapers in Christmas scents • Holiday Votives and Tea Lights in Holiday Scents Adirondack Chandler, 21 Cooper Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801 Phone: 518-798-1800 Fax: 518-824-5739 Website: www.adkchandler.com info@adkchandler.com

No minimum

This compost arrived weed free.

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Also Wreaths, Garland/Roping Table Top Trees & Greenery Billl McNeely y Owner/Grower 828-387-5365

This compost arrived with weed seeds that sprouted immediately.

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LARGEST CHRISTMAS TREE AUCTION IN THE NATION to be held at BUFFALO VALLEY PRODUCE AUCTION, INC. 22 Violet Rd., Mifflinburg, PA 17844

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Neil Courtney, Manager www.buffalovalleyproduce.com

AH-000230-L

Page 7 - Section B • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • October 2012

Update from B6

October 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • Section B - Page 8

CTFANY kick off annual membership show

by Pat Malin SYRACUSE, NY — The Christmas Tree Farmers Association of New York (CTFANY) kicked off its annual membership show on Aug. 23 outside the Horticultural Building on the opening day of the New York State Fair, and continued to display their green wares, wreaths and

Christmas products through Labor Day. An evergreen from Empire Evergreens of Painted Post, NY, in the Southern Tier, was named grand champion.

Billmar Nurseries of Pleasant Valley, near Peekskill in the Hudson

Valley, ran away with six major awards, including reserve grand champion for its concolor, a fir variety. It received blue ribbons in individual classes for Fraser fir, concolor, other firs, Colorado spruce and tabletop, plus a second-place in

Canaan fir.

William (Will) Ruby, superintendent of the CTFANY tent and one of three judges, said points are awarded based on a tree’s ideal shape and color. Fragrance, too, might be a consideration for consumers.

“Concolors are citrusy,” he said. “They’re a non-allergenic tree. We look for a good taper (top), for branches that are even and a straight trunk. We go over them with a fine-toothed comb. We look for insects, and clean, trim

handles (the lower trunk). The grand champion in the balsam class, the judges liked the looks of it.”

The association has some 400 members, only half of its former roster.

CTFANY B9

O’HARA MACHINERY, INC. 1289 Chamberlain Rd. Auburn, NY 13021 1-315-253-3203 PADULA BROS., INC. 133 Leominster Shirley Rd. Lunenburg, MA 01462 978-537-3356 Will Ruby, superintendent of the Christmas Trees Farmers Association booth at the State Fair, shows off the shapely Grand Champion, right, and Reserved Grand Champion trees. Empire Evergreens of Painted Post, NY, won the grand champion award for its stately balsam. Bilmar Nurseries of Pleasant Valley, NY, was named reserved grand champion for its concolor.

Photo by Pat Malin

HAMMOND TRACTOR Auburn, ME 207-782-8921 Fairfield, ME 207-453-7131 Union, ME 207-785-4464 STANTON EQUIPMENT INC. 105 S. Main St. East Windsor, CT 06081 860-623-8296 Fax 860-627-9832

Update from B7 arrived weed free, while the other had weed seeds that promptly grew. Trial block #1, which has both composts applied, started with a two quart per acre application of simozine and needed three light applications (directed spray) of glyphosate by Aug. 15.

Some weeds were so tall we just pulled them. You can blame the compost if you wish, but how about another extra “test” area that was core aerated only, no compost added at all, encouraging a real handsome crop of weeds.

Now, I say if the weeds got such a boost from core aerating and adding compost there has to be a very good chance the trees are in process of reacting the same way.

Time will tell.

Look for more updates in coming issues.

If you have questions visit www.vtchristmastrees.com

R.N. JOHNSON INC. PO Box 448 Walpole, NH 03608 603-756-3321 POLE TAVERN EQUIPMENT SALES CORP. 670 Route 40 Elmer, NJ 08318

Z&M AG and TURF 3517 Railroad Ave. Alexander, NY 14005 716-591-1670 7615 Lewiston Rd. Oakfield, NY 14125 716-948-5261

Z&M AG and TURF 1759 Lindquist Dr. Falconer, NY 14733 716-665-3110 10838 Main St. North Collins, NY 14111 716-337-2563

Z&M AG and TURF 8926 West Main St. Clymer, NY 14725 716-355-4236 12401 Edinboro Rd. Edinboro, PA 16412 814-734-1552

MOUNTAIN VIEW EQUIPMENT VT, LLC Middlebury, VT 05753 802-388-4482 COPE FARM EQUIPMENT 6401 SR 87 Kinsman, OH 44428 330-876-3191 Fax 330-876-8257 www.copefarm.com

www. cfgrower. com Hillside Cultivator for excellent weed control between rows of strawberries & vegetables grown on plastic Eco Weeder ideal for removing weeds between plants in the row

BioSafe Systems introduces the new BioFogger®. The BioFogger provides a compact vertical rotomolded 15 gallon plastic tank mounted on heavy duty wheels and a built in handle. The fogger uses compressed air to generate a 15 micron fog through three air/water nozzles mounted on a stainless steel adjustable mast.

The BioFogger is available with a programmable time to allow the unit

to pulse on and off, maximizing both efficacy and the use of most air compressors. This easy to use Fogger produces a high volume of fog that may be used for both humidification and chemical applications of BioSafe Systems products such as AzaGuard Broad Spectrum Insecticide/Nematicide, ZeroTol 2.0, and StorOx 2.0.

For more information on the BioFogger, contact BioSafe Systems at

888-273-3088, toll-free.

BioSafe Systems LLC is the manufacturer of sustainable and environmentally responsible disease control solutions, many of which meet the requirements of the National Organic Program.

BioSafe Systems develops products for the Agriculture, Animal Health, Post Harvest / Food Safety, Commercial Horticulture, Golf, Home and Garden, and Aquatics industries.

The BioFogger provides a compact vertical rotomolded 15 gallon plastic tank mounted on heavy duty wheels and a built in handle.

fertilizing) for four hours every day.”

The 2012 season, too, has been difficult. “The drought is over now,” Ruby explained, “but it will affect the transplants for next year because we plant in the spring. Our members

are reporting a lot of losses. But I was lucky.

I planted 900 trees and only lost 35, but someone lost 2,500 trees. It’s not always the (entire) tree we lose, but we lose one year’s growth. We put in four-year transplants and sell them

when they’re six-toeight years old.”

The newest development in the Christmas tree industry is growing exotic trees, including Turkish and Korean firs.

Ruby noted, though, that they grow too slow for his farm.

CTFANY from B8 “We have a lot of older members and our numbers are going down,” pointed out Ruby, who started his 20-acre Spring Pond Farm in Mexico, NY, in 1970. “There’s a lot of work to it. I work on my trees (watering and

R&R FARM TRANSPORT Quality Pumpkins

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Page 9 - Section B • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • October 2012

BioSafe Systems introduces the BioFogger

October 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • Section B - Page 10

North Carolina State’s “Pack ‘N Cool” provides farmers with mobile refrigeration solution KANNAPOLIS, NC — North Carolina State University’s Plants for Human Health Institute (PHHI) has developed a new mobile cooling unit for farmers.

The five-by-eight-feet refrigerated trailer — called the “Pack ‘N Cool” — is designed to keep fruits and vegetables at ideal temperatures during transport to and from farmers markets or as they’re harvested in farm fields. The Pack ‘N Cool is the program’s latest postharvest quality and food safety project geared toward helping farmers.

Dr. Penelope Perkins-Veazie, professor and postharvest physiologist with PHHI, coordinated the effort to develop a mobile refrigeration unit that agricultural producers can use as a model for building their own versions. The Pack ‘N Cool unit combines the mobility of a cargo trailer with the refrigeration capabilities of a commercial cooler.

With construction spearheaded by Louis Wojciechowski, a lab technician with Perkins-Veazie’s research team, the model unit cost around $3,400 to construct, including a new cargo trailer priced at $1,500 (a preowned trailer can reduce costs). Construction guidelines, step-by-step photos and a sample budget are available on the Plants for Human Health Institute website.

As a scientist that studies fresh produce after it’s harvested, PerkinsVeazie recommends that many fruits

and vegetables be stored at 32 to 41 degrees. This includes most fruits (apple, blackberry, strawberry), leafy greens (cabbage, lettuce) and immature vegetables (broccoli, cucumber, green beans), which decay in heat.

“Based on my experience, farmers know that it’s important to keep certain fruits and vegetables at cool temperatures to remove field heat and hold fresh-grown quality, but it’s often challenging to purchase or maintain the equipment needed to ensure those ideal temps,” said Perkins-Veazie. “The Pack ‘N Cool model provides farmers with a mobile, cost-efficient alternative to commercial cooling units.”

She adds that keeping fresh-picked fruits and vegetables cooler for longer preserves quality and extends the shelf life of the produce, a benefit for farmers hauling food to and from multiple markets each week.

“Highly perishable fruits like blackberries that sit at 80 degrees at market will last only a day compared to a week if kept at 40 degrees,” said Perkins-Veazie. “That makes a big difference to farmers.”

The Pack ‘N Cool utilizes CoolBot temperature technology to maximize the output of a basic window air conditioner unit. The CoolBot adapter interfaces with the AC unit, which typically bottoms out at 60 F, to generate temperatures as low as the 30s in the trailer.

Wojciechowski added, “if the AC ever fails, a new unit can be bought at a home improvement store for $300 and hooked up the same day without the need for a refrigeration service call. It’s simple and energy-efficient.” An electrical extension cord (110V) or a gener-

ator powers the unit.

The Pack ‘N Cool will also be used as a training tool for North Carolina State faculty and North Carolina Cooperative Extension agents. The unit will be demonstrated at agricultural field days and events across the state.

Sustainable Community Grants available from Northeast SARE Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research Eeducation (SARE), in collaboration with the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development, offers competitive grants for projects that strengthen the position of sustainable agriculture as it affects community economic development.

Communities and commercial farmers must benefit from these proposals, and the selection emphasis is on model projects that others can replicate.

Projects that are likely to bring about durable and positive institutional change as well as ones that benefit more than one farm are emphasized.

Deadline to apply for next year’s grant is Nov.15.

Project Topics Proposals must address key issues such as finance, marketing, land use, water use, enterprise development, value-added activities, and labor. Other topics may also be addressed, provided the issue is substantive, farmers and

the farm community benefit, and the approach explores new ways to advance sustainable commercial agriculture.

What Funds Cannot be Used For Specifically excluded are food donation programs, student or public awareness about agriculture, and community gardening projects.

Also, grants cannot be used to adopt practices or methods already in use - for example, fund farmers’ market startups.

Fresh Approaches to Projects Proposals should break new ground and offer fresh approaches to enhancing sustainable commercial agriculture and community development.

You may find it useful to look at a list of last year’s Sustainable Community Grant awards.

Awards are capped at $15,000.

Applications can be found at www.nesare.org/Grants/Get-aGrant/Sustainable-Community-Grant

Page 11 - Section B • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • October 2012

October 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • Section B - Page 12

America’s pumpkin growers unite in the fight against breast cancer A Colorado nonprofit organization is uniting America’s pumpkin growers in the fight against breast cancer.

The Pink Pumpkin Patch Foundation based in Rocky Ford, CO helps U.S. growers donate a percentage of sales of each Porcelain Doll F1 pink pumpkin grown to organizations supporting breast cancer research.

“It’s a great avenue for the growers themselves to support breast cancer research” says Kevin Skaling of DP Seeds LLC., the Porcelain Doll F1 breeder.

This 501(c)(3) charity

has also launched a website not only to provide grower resources but to provide the public with information about the foundation and the Porcelain Doll F1 pink pumpkin. PinkPumpkinPatch encourages customers to place a pink pumpkin on their porch this fall to show their support in ending breast cancer. “We want to see a pink pumpkin on every porch in America,” states Don Goodwin, Pink Pumpkin Patch Founda-

The Porcelain Doll pink pumpkin is a tangible way to show support for breast cancer research.

Photo courtesy of pinkpumpkinpatch.org

“Pink Lemonade,” “Razz,” “Sweetheart,” and “Cara’s Choice": Superb Blueberries from ARS

by Marcia Wood That interesting shrub growing in a neighbor’s front yard may actually be exactly what you think it is — a somewhat unusual ornamental that produces pink blueberries. These berries not only look pretty, but they’re tasty, too, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientist Mark K. Ehlenfeldt.

As a plant geneticist with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Chatsworth, NJ, Ehlenfeldt has either developed or helped develop a dozen new varieties of blueberries, including “Pink Lemonade.”

Although not a first of its kind, “Pink Lemonade” is likely America’s most popular pink blueberry. In 1991, Ehlenfeldt chose the parent plants that later yielded today’s “Pink Lemonade.” Results from his test plots in New Jersey and findings from West Coast evaluations by ARS plant geneticist Chad E. Finn in Corvallis, OR, led to the decision to officially “release” this blueberry as what is known as a numbered selection (specifically, ARS 96-138) in 2005, and, in 2007, to name it “Pink Lemonade.”

After a new kind, or variety, of plant has been thoroughly tested, “releasing” it typically involves giving it a name, describing its pedigree and other features in a release notice (somewhat

like a botanical birth announcement), and making it available to one or more suppliers of foundation plant materials so that commercial nurseries can buy and propagate it for wholesale or retail sale.

“Razz,” another stellar blueberry from the Chatsworth program, offers a flavorful surprise: it tastes quite a bit like a raspberry. “Razz” was bred by USDA’s first blueberry breeder, Frederick W. Coville, in 1934, and was chosen for further study during the next decade by USDA and university researchers. Originally regarded as too unusual for its time, “Razz” was later rediscovered, newly tested, then officially released last year.

“Sweetheart” is a beginning and end-of-season treat. It produces firm, delectable, medium- to medium-large berries in mid- to late-June, and will also produce a small crop of new berries months later, if the autumn is mild. Ehlenfeldt named and released “Sweetheart” in 2010.

Some blueberry fans regard “Cara’s Choice” as the best blueberry they have ever tasted.

Ehlenfeldt describes it as a very sweet, mediumsized berry that has a pleasant aroma. This berry can be allowed to remain on the plant for several weeks after ripening. It will continue to sweeten, while enabling growers to extend

their harvests over a longer period of time.

Former USDA blueberry researcher Arlen D. Draper selected the parents for “Cara’s Choice.”

Evaluations by Draper, Ehlenfeldt, and others led to release of “Cara’s

Choice” in 2000.

Read more about these berries in the current issue of Agricultural Research magazine and in release notices posted at www.ars.usda.gov/Ehl enfeldt.

Both ornamental and tasty, the ARS-developed blueberry variety Pink Lemonade is likely America's most popular pink blueberry.

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tion president. He adds, “These pumpkins convey a sense of solidarity against a disease that directly and indirectly affects all of us at some point of our lives.”

Growers wanting to purchase Porcelain Doll F1 Pink Pumpkin seed can do so through SEEDWAY and NESEED.com.

For more information about the Foundation and the Porcelain Doll F1 Pink Pumpkin visit www.PinkPumpkinPatch.org.

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — The public has voted and it’s time to announce the 2012 American Garden Award Winners! The 2012 American Garden Award program, now in its fourth year, featured six new flower varieties chosen by their

breeders for their excellent garden performance. Once these new varieties were planted and put on display at the participating gardens, the public was invited to vote on their favorite using one of several voting methods. The votes have

been tallied and the three winners are: Most Popular! Grand Prize Winner Begonia boliviensis ‘Santa Cruz™ Sunset’ from Ernst Benary of America. Begonia Santa Cruz™ Sunset lights up the garden with an abun-

dance of scarlet/orange blooms. Its elegant softly cascading form is perfect for hanging baskets, urns or mass plantings.

Surprisingly heat, drought and rain tolerant, this summer beauty thrives in any location from full sun to shade.

Second Place Winner Gazania ‘Big Kiss™ White Flame’ F1 from Syngenta Flowers. Gazania Big Kiss™ White Flame has huge white and rose striped flowers that cover full, bushy plants. This carefree, heat loving and drought tolerant annual loves the sun and thrives in tough conditions, all summer long. Extra large flowers and plants make high impact displays in garden beds or containers.

Third Place Winner Petunia ‘Surfinia® Deep Red’ from Suntory Flowers. Finally, the true deep red petunia gardeners

Begonia boliviensis ‘Santa Cruz™ Sunset' from Ernst Benary was the Grand Prize winner.

Award B14 Right — Gazania ‘Big Kiss™ White Flame’ F1 from Syngenta Flowers was the second place winner.

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CLINTON TRACTOR & IMPLEMENT, CO. Clinton, NY 13323 315-853-6151

MID-STATE GOLF CAR Canton, NY 877-592-4653

Page 13 - Section B • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • October 2012

American Garden Award announces 2012 winners

October 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • Section B - Page 14

Award from B13

Make Plans Now to Attend the

EMPIRE STATE PRODUCERS EXPO Oncenter • Syracuse, NY

January 22-23-24

2013

For trade show and exhibiting information, please contact Dan Wren Lee Trade Shows, P.O. Box 121, Palatine Bridge, NY 13428 800-218-5586 e-mail dwren@leepub.com www.nysvga.org/expo/info

EDUCATION SESSIONS ON

Petunia 'Surfinia® Deep Red' from Suntory Flowers was the third place winner.

have been searching for! For 20 years, Surfinia® has been the best-selling vegetative petunia series in the world, offering superior garden performance

with no pinching or pruning needed.

‘Surfinia® Deep Red’ can be enjoyed in container gardens or in the landscape from spring through fall.

Alliums for Beginners Beginning Farmers Berry Blueberry Potato Cole Crop Cover/Crops/Soil Health Direct Market

Extreme Weather Food Safety Greenhouse/Horticulture High Tunnel/Greenhouse Hops Labor Leafy Greens

Pesticide Safety Processing Root Crop Roundtable Small Scale Onions Tomato/Pepper Tree Fruit Vine Crop School

WEDNESDAY KEYNOTE SPEAKER Jim Prevor’s Perishable Pundit, the industry’s most important forum for the discussion and analysis of issues relevant to the trade is widely recognized as a leader in understanding and assessing the state of the perishable food industries.

www.aaauctionfinder.com

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Mr. Prevor is the fourth generation of his family to be active in the food business in the United States. Prior to launching his own company, he served as a director of his family’s company, which was an importer, exporter and wholesaler of foodstuffs.

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Mr. Prevor combines the real world experience of one who has worked in the trade with the analytical perspective of an editor and analyst.

Brought to you by: Country Folks, Country Folks Grower, Wine & Grape Grower, Hard Hat News, Mane Stream, Waste Handling Equipment News, North American Quarry News, Small Farm Quarterly and by Lee Publications Inc. Palatine Bridge, NY 13428 www.leepub.com (800) 218-5586

THURSDAY–DIRECT MARKETING SPEAKER Don Frantz, A three-time winner of the Guinness Record for the World’s Largest Maze, Don developed a new, outdoor, family game called the “Amazing Maize Maze®.” His American Maze Company has built hundreds of projects, entertained millions of players, instigated a world-wide maze fad and has given him the label of “Father of the Corn Maze.”

The 2013 Empire State Producers Expo is sponsored by: • • • •

New York State Vegetable Growers Association Empire State Potato Growers New York State Berry Growers Association New York Farmers’ Direct Marketing Committee

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The New York State Horticultural Society Cornell University Cornell Cooperative Extension NYS Flower Industries

Send Your Auction Listings to: Country Folks GROWER, P.O. Box 121, Palatine Bridge, NY 13428-0121 • Phone 518-673-3237 • Fax 518-673-2381

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THESE PARTICIPATING AUCTIONEERS ADDISON COUNTY COMMISSION SALES Rte. 125 • E. Middlebury, VT 05740 Sale every Monday & Tuesday Specializing in Complete Farm Dispersals “A Leading Auction Service” In VT. 800-339-2697 or 800-339-COWS 802-388-2661 • 802-388-22639 ALEX LYON & SON Bridgeport, NY 315-633-2944 www.lyonauction.com

DANN AUCTIONEERS DELOS DANN 3339 Spangle St.,Canandaigua, NY 14424 585-785-2161 www.cnyauctions.com/dannauctioneers.htm FRALEY AUCTION CO. Auctioneers & Sales Managers Licensed & Bonded 1515 Kepner Hill Rd., Muncy, PA 570-546-6907 570-546-9344 www.fraleyauction.com

AUCTIONEER PHIL JACQUIER INC. Southwick, MA 413-569-6421 www.jacquierauctions.com

HARRIS WILCOX, INC. Bergen, NY 585-494-1881 www.harriswilcox.com

BUFFALO VALLEY PRODUCE AUCTION Mifflinburg, PA 570-966-1151

HUNYADY AUCTION CO. Hatfield, PA 800-233-6898

C.W. GRAY & SONS, INC. Complete Auction Service Rte. 5, East Thetford, VT 802-785-2161

MARK FERRY AUCTIONS Latrobe, PA 724-423-5580

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Produce and Flower Auction every Tuesday & Thursday at 9:00 AM, Shrubbery Sale at 10:30 AM on Thursdays

Shrubbery Picking Back Up with the Fall Season. Fall Produce, Squashes, Pumpkins, Gourds & Mums are coming in strong.

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Wednesday, October 3

1770 or 1771 www.hoskingsales.com

• Romulus, NY. Real Estate & Machinery Dispersal. Landini Tractor; NH skidsteer (low hours), Eby 7’ x 20’ trailer, Pequea flat trailer 8’x24’, NH 130 manure spreader, bedding chopper.

Watch for more details on website. Real Estate will handled by William Kent, Inc. Tom & Brenda Hosking 607-699-3637, 607847-8800, cell 607-972-

Thursday, October 4 • 4:00 PM: Lockport, Niagra County, NY. Lockport Farm Machinery & Consignment Auction. Now accepting consignments.

William Kent Inc. www.williamkentinc.com or 585-343-5449

Saturday, October 13 • 8:30 AM: Middlesex Livestock Auction, 488

MILLER’S AUCTION Argyle, NY 518-638-8580 PIRRUNG AUCTIONEERS Wayland, NY 585-728-2528 ROY TEITSWORTH, INC., AUCTIONEERS Geneseo, NY 585-243-1563 www.teitsworth.com WILLIAM KENT, INC. Stafford, NY 585-343-5449 or 585-548-7738 WOLGEMUTH AUCTION Leola, PA www.wolgemuthauction.com wolgemuthauc@juno.com WRIGHT’S AUCTION SERVICE 48 Community Dr. Derby, VT 14541 802-334-6115 www.wrightsauctions.com Cherry Hill Rd., Middlefield, CT. Rain or Shine.

Farm & Landscape Equipment Auction. Middlesex Livestock Auction, Lisa Scirpo 860-8835828, Sale Barn 860349-3204 • 9:00 AM: Hamburg Fairgrounds, Hamburg, NY. Municipal & Contractor Equipment Auction. Roy Teitsworth, Inc., Professional Auctioneers, 585243-1563 www.teitsworth.com

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• 10:00 AM: Chatham Market, 2249 Rte. 203, Chatham, NY. Fall Machinery Auction. Call to consign. Harold Renwick, Mgr. & Auctioneer, Empire Livestock Marketing, 315-420-9092 or Auction Barn at 518-392-3321. www.empirelivestock.co m

Thursday, October 18 • Wyoming, Wyoming County, NY. Farm Real Estate Auction. Selling 20 acre farm w/ house, barns, pond, pasture, woods and orchard. Excellent hunting. William Kent Inc. www.williamkentinc.com

Saturday, October 20 • 10:30 AM: Catskill Tractor Inc., Center St., Franklin, NY. Inventory Reduction & Consignment Auction. Sale by Franklin Used Equipment Sales. Call to consign.

Frank Walker Auction-

Calendar B16

Page 15 - Section B • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • October 2012

AUCTION CALENDAR

October 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • Section B - Page 16

Pesticide Recertification Credits Available at Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo Keeping up-to-date with pesticide recertification is a fact of life for the greenhouse industry. At the 2012 Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo, growers will have ample opportunity to learn valuable new information on all aspects of pest and disease management while earning the pesticide credits they need to maintain their certification status.

A total of 11 one-hour presentations (credits vary by state) will be offered for the six New England states plus New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Please check the schedule on the program brochure, as some of the presentations are at the same time.

Come hear the following presenta-

tions from some of the top experts from the U.S. and Canada: On Wednesday, Nov. 7: • Building a Biocontrol Ecology in Your Greenhouse, by Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, Buglady Consulting • Controlling Pests in Retail Greenhouses, by Leanne Pundt, University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension • Culturally Manage Diseases, by Margery Daughtrey and Nora Catlin, Cornell University • Scouting From a Practical View Point, by Alan Michael, The Pennsylvania State University (retired) • Biocontrol Hits and Misses: Learning From the Past for Future Success,

by Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, Buglady

Consulting On Thursday, Nov. 8: • Insect Growth Regulators: How to Effectively Use These Pest Control Materials, by Ray Cloyd, Kansas State University • How PGRs Enhance Your Bottom Line, by Brian Whipker, North Carolina State University • Impatiens Got You Down(y)?, by Margery Daughtrey, Cornell University • Sherlock Holmes: Plant Nutrition Style, by Brian Krug, University of New Hampshire • Systemic Insecticides: How do They Kill Bugs?, by Raymond Cloyd, Kansas State University • Managing Insects When Growing

Cold, by John Sanderson, Cornell University The Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo is sponsored by the Extension programs of the six New England State Universities, New York State and New England Floriculture, Inc. For more information about these and other sessions, and about the trade expo, contact: Cindy Delaney, Delaney Meeting & Event Management, 1 Mill Street, Suite 301, Burlington, VT 05404, Phone: 802-865-5202, Fax: 802-865-8066 Email: info@negreenhouse.org Or visit our web site: www.negreenhouse.org

Maryland Value Added Producer Matching Grants now available from MARBIDCO The Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO) is accepting applications for the Maryland Value Added Producer Matching Grants (MVAPMG) program, which can provide an eligible applicant up to 15 percent of the non-federal financial matching requirement of a U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Value Added Producer Grant (USDA-VAPG.) Together, these grants allow Maryland’s independent agricultural producers to engage in value-added activities.

The USDA-VAPG is a highly competitive nationwide grants program with about $14 million available for distribution in 2012. These grant funds can be used for planning or working capital expenses in accordance with USDA regulations. Eligible purposes include feasibility studies or business plans, working capital for marketing valueadded agricultural products and for farm-based renewable energy projects.

MARBIDCO is making available Maryland Value Added Producer Matching Grants (MVAPMG) of up to 15 percent of the amount of a USDA-VAPG award to help an eligible applicant meet the non-federal financial matching requirement. All applicants that meet the MARBIDCO requirements will receive a commitment of matching funds to be included with their federal USDAVAPG application. A MVAPMG monetary award from MARBIDCO will only be provided to an applicant that is selected to receive USDA-VAPG funding.

The application submission deadline for the USDA-VAPG program is Monday, Oct. 15. Questions regarding the USDA-VAPG can be addressed to the Maryland/Delaware

Office of USDA-Rural Development at 302-857-3629. Visit USDA’s website for more information: www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_VAPG_Grants.ht ml.

Applicants seeking to receive a commitment of matching funds from MAR-

BIDCO must submit an application at least two weeks prior to the federal submission deadline. The deadline for submission of MARBIDCO applications is Monday, Oct. 1 (or postmarked

by Sept. 29). For more information and to download the MVAPMG application

form, visit: www.MARBIDCO.org.

Questions about the MVAPMG may also be addressed by contacting Kristen Robinson, MARBIDCO Financial Programs Officer, at 410-267-6807.

New York apple TV commercial wins national Telly Award FISHERS, NY — A local New York television commercial has been awarded a national Telly Award for outstanding creative work. New York Apple Association (NYAA) received the 2012 Telly for its “All About Apples” advertisement. “All About Apples” was written and directed for NYAA by Mason Selkowitz Marketing and produced by Crystal Pix, Inc., both based in Rochester.

“All About Apples” was recorded at a Rochester studio, using local actors — including some very adorable child performers. Set to upbeat music, the commercial features mouthwatering images of New York apples as well as pies, sauce, cider and other foods made from them.

“We devote a large portion of our promotional budget to connect with consumers, and short of being able to put an apple in every consumer’s hand the powerful visuals of video are the best way to make that connec-

tion,” said NYAA President Jim Allen.

“We also reached consumers where they want to be reached, online on YouTube and on websites.”

“All About Apples” and other NYAA videos can be viewed on the association’s YouTube channel.

This is the fourth award to go to NYAA for its video work; the association also received the Telly in 2007 for “Apples Apples”, the 2007 Gold Aurora Award for “Apple”, the 2008 “Platinum Best of Show” Aurora Award for “Cider Magic”, and the 2004 Telly award for “Diner”.

The national Telly Awards, founded in 1978, honor “the best film and video productions, groundbreaking online video content, and outstanding local, regional and cable TV commercials and programs”, reports the Telly website. Entries are judged by the Silver Telly Council, which includes award-winning members of the visual arts community.

www. cfgrower.com

New York Apple Association’s Telly Award.

Calendar from B15 eers, 607-829-2600

Saturday, October 27 • 9:00 AM: Syracuse, NY (NYS Fairgrounds).

Onondaga Co. area Municipal Equipment Auc-

tion. Municipal & Contractor Equipment. Roy Teitsworth, Inc., Professional Auctioneers, 585243-1563 www.teitsworth.com

Friday, November 9

• Pleasant Lane Beef Farm, Hannibal, NY. Selling complete line of late model equipment. (Save the date, late model equip. you don’t find at absolute public auction.)

Ray was very successful and equip. is in great shape with most only few years old. Hilltop Auction Company, Jay Martin 315-521-3123, Elmer Zeiset 315-729-8030

Saturday, December 1 • 9:00 AM: Teitsworth Auction Yard, 6502 Barber Hill Rd., Geneseo, NY. Special Winter Consignment Auction. Farm &

Construction Equipment, Heavy & Light Trucks, Liquidations & Consignments. Roy Teitsworth, Inc., Professional Auctioneers, 585-243-1563 www.teitsworth.com

The Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG) will present a one day symposium on Thursday, Oct. 25, at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT. The symposium will take place from 8 a.m.-4:20 p.m. The theme of the 2012 symposium is Getting Real About Invasive Plants: Prioritize, Strategize, Mobilize.

The symposium is open to the public and will include introductory information about invasive plants. People with all levels of interest and experience are invited to attend. Commissioner Dan Esty of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will deliver opening remarks. Keynote speaker Dr. Elizabeth Farnsworth of the New England Wild Flower Society will present “Twenty-first Century Tools for Tackling Invasive Plants: Identify, Prioritize, Mobilize.”

Concurrent afternoon sessions will address decision tools for management projects, invasives 101, aquatic invasive plants and clean boating, econom-

ics, restoration with native plants, and other topics. Research posters and other educational exhibits will be featured throughout the day.

The registration fee is $55. Student fee (with ID) is $25. Registration includes admission to all sessions and

WINSTON-SALEM, NC — Lowes Foods reported that it has exceeded its goal of selling 10 percent local produce as part of the North Carolina 10% Campaign. The retailer sourced more than 20 percent of its produce from instate farms from May to August 2012.

The NC 10% Campaign, which is a partnership of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, NC State University, NC A&T University and the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, encourages all state residents to spend 10 percent of their food budgets on locally grown and produced foods. According to cam-

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d

Sol

by:

To request a paper copy of the registration brochure or for additional information, contact Donna Ellis at 860486-6448; donna.ellis@uconn.edu.

The program agenda and online registration are available at www. hort.uconn.edu/cipwg.

Lowes Foods surpasses local produce goal

Produce Packing Line At Lowest Prices

Factory Direct Prices

educational displays, parking, lunch, snacks and beverages during breaks, and an information packet with session summaries.

Pesticide Recertification and other Continuing Education Credits will be offered.

60th Year Serving the Industry 1-800-380-5839 Call or Write for Free Catalog and Prices

ECO The weeder you must have!

- Adjustable 3pt. linkage - P.T.O. Driven - Requires no hydraulic outlet on the tractor - Eliminates 95% of any length of weeds - Can work around and between the plants - Adjustable wheels for different cultivations - Eliminates the need of herbicides for weeding

Roeters Farm Eq., Inc. 565 E. 120th St., Grant, MI 49327 231-834-7888 www.roetersfarmequipment.com

paign estimates, such a commitment would keep $3.5 billion within the state economy.

Lowes Foods joined the campaign in March 2012. According to a statement, the retailer credits the passion of its customers and employees with helping to surpass its goal for local produce.

“Working with committed partners like Lowes Foods is critical to making systematic changes. Lowes Foods is supporting our farmers and it’s important for consumers to see the connec-

tion between their grocer and their farm neighbors,” Teisha Wymore, the NC 10% Campaign director, said in a statement.

Lowes Foods also promotes local produce through its Locally Grown Club program, which offers a box of six to 10 items each week from June to September.

Read More: http://supermarketnews.com/produce/lowes-foods-surp a s s e s - l o c a l - p r o d u c e goal#ixzz26MbpGWYV

2012 Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo The Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo will host “Alternative Crops and Uses for Your Greenhouses” at their 2012 conference held Nov. 7-8 at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA. T o be successful in today’s marketplace, greenhouse gr owers and retailers need to “think outside of the box” to consider new and alter native crops and uses for their gr eenhouses.

Come hear what the following innovative gr owers and experts are now doing to insur e continued business throughout the year.

• What to do between July and May, Side Raisch, Horticultural Advantage • Alter native Uses for Greenhouses: Grower panel featuring Theresa Freund, Freund’s Farm Market, and Bill Stockman, Spider Web Gardens • Growing Greenhouse Veggies for Fun and Profit, Steve Palmer, Plainview Far m and Nate Drummond, Six River Far m The Northeast Greenhouse Conference & Expo is sponsored by the Extension programs of the six New Eng-

land State Universities, New York State and New England Floriculture, Inc. For more infor mation on the Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo, visit the website, www.negreenhouse.org For more information contact: Delaney Meeting & Event Management, 802-865-5202 or fax: 802-865-8066, o r email; info@negreenhouse.org or visit our website: www.negreenhouse.org.

DEER FENCING INSTALLED WE SPECIALIZE IN:

• INSTALLATION of high tensile woven wire at heights up to 8’ & 10’ for the most effective deer control.

• DISTRIBUTING full line of deer & agricultural fence products and now available, untreated black locust posts.

Check out new photos on our Web site nodeer.com

Serving New Jersey, New York & Southern New England

• We offer competitive pricing on all fence supplies.

• POST POUNDING for trellising of apples & grapes.

SPECIALTY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, LLC Orange, CT 06477

800-483-8889

Page 17 - Section B • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • October 2012

UConn to host major invasive plant conference in October

October 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • Section B - Page 18

Country Folks Grower Classifieds

( 800 ) 836-2888 PO Box 121, 6113 State Hwy. 5 ( ) Fax: 518 673-2381 Palatine Bridge, NY 13428 E-mail: classified@leepub.com Announcements

Announcements

NOVEMBER ISSUE

ADVERTISING DEADLINE

Thursday, October 11th For as little as $9.25 - place a classified ad in

Country Folks Grower

Call Peg at

Business Opportunities

Business Opportunities

Do You Grow Grapes?

Do You Make Wine?

CHECK OUT

1-800-836-2888

or 518-673-0111

or email classified@leepub.com Number / Classification 35 Announcements 50 Applicators 80 Auctions 110 Bedding Plants 120 Bees-Beekeeping 130 Bird Control 155 Building Materials/ Supplies 165 Business Opportunities 210 Christmas Trees 235 Computers 330 Custom Services 415 Employment Wanted 440 Farm Machinery For Sale 445 F a r m M a c h i n e r y Wanted 470 Financial Services 500 For Sale 505 Forklifts 510 Fresh Produce, Nursery 515 Fruit Processing Eq. 530 Garden Supplies 535 Generators 570 G r e e n h o u s e Plugs/Cuttings 575 Greenhouse Supplies 580 Groundcover 605 Heating 610 Help Wanted 680 Irrigation 700 Lawn & Garden 805 Miscellaneous 820 Nurseries 840 Nursery Supplies 855 Orchard Supplies 910 Plants 950 Real Estate For Sale 955 Real Estate Wanted 1035 Seeds & Nursery 1040 Services Offered 1130 Tractors 1135 Tra c t o r s, Pa r t s & Repair 1140 Trailers 1155 Tree Moving Services 1165 Trees 1170 Truck Parts & Equipment 1180 Trucks 1190 Vegetable 1205 Wanted

Announcements # # # # #

ADVERTISERS Get the best response from your advertisements by including the condition, age, price and best calling hours.

Also we always recommend insertion for at least 2 times for maximum benefits. Call Peg at 1-800-836-2888 CHECK YOUR AD - ADVERTISERS should check their ads. Lee Publications, Inc. shall not be liable for typographical, or errors in publication except to the extent of the cost of the first months insertion of the ad, and shall also not be liable for damages due to failure to publish an ad.

Adjustment for errors is limited to the cost of that portion of the ad wherein the error occurred. Report any errors to Peg Patrei at 518-6733237 ext. 111 or 800-8362888.

NEED BUSINESS CARDS? Full color glossy, heavy stock.

250 ($45.00); 500 ($60.00); 1,000 ($75.00). Call your sales representative or Lee Publications 518-673-0101 Beth bsnyder@leepub.com YARD SIGNS: 16x24 full color with stakes, double sided.

Stakes included. Only $15.00 each. Call your sales representative or Beth at Lee Publications 518-673-0101 or bsnyder@leepub.com. Please allow 7 to 10 business days when ordering.

www.wineandgrapegrower.com

Fruits & Berries

Fruits & Berries

®

Specializing in Edible Landscaping.

Blueberries, Blackberries, Raspberries, Grapes, and Fruit Trees.

TN: 931-467-3600 • Fax 931-467-3062 email sales@freedomtreefarms.com www.freedomtreefarms.com

Or Call For a Sample Copy

800-218-5586

Christmas Trees CUT CHRISTMAS TREES: 7’-11’ Scotch Pine, Fraser Fir, Concolor Fir. Carrollton, OH 330-494-0841 HerbertsPineHollowFarm.com GREAT QUALITY Canaan and Douglas fir. A close source from Balt/DC/VA. Near Cumberland, MD. 814-8423775, pvtf@hotmail.com, or pleasantvalleytreefarm.com for pricing.

Wholesale Christmas Trees Fraser Canaan Concolor Blue Spruce

1.800.508.5099 www.treeman2.com

HARTIKKA TREE FARMS

Farm Machinery For Sale ONE AND TWO ROW sweetcorn, vegetable, pumpkin planters w/JD Max-Emerge.

Also, custom build planters.

Pequea Planter, 717-4424406

Farm Market Items Affordable USA MADE Items.

Full line of heavy duty items, poles - hooks - trellis items, arbors - fences - indoor items.

Free 400 plus Items Catalog.

Custom Display Racks. Also accepting custom orders.

Serving customers since 1999. A&L Iron Works, LLC, 624 Buchland Rd., Narvon, PA 17555. 717-768-0705, Fax 717-768-0245

WHOLESALE NURSERY, INC. 9555 North Gast Road, P.O. Box 116 - Bridgman, Michigan 49106 Phone: 269-465-5522 Fax: 269-465-4822

WHOLESALE GROWERS OF QUALITY SMALL FRUIT PLANTS BLUEBERRIES ARE OUR SPECIALTY Grapevines Blueberries Jostaberries Gooseberries

Red Raspberries Purple Raspberries Yellow Raspberries Black Raspberries

www.kriegersnursery.com ALL STOCK GRADED TO AAN STANDARDS

Garden Supplies GROW HALF-DOLLAR SIZE muscadine & blackberries, 200 varieties, fruits, nuts, and berries. Free color catalog.

Ison’s Nursery, P.O. Box 190, Brooks, GA 30205, 1-800733-0324. www.isons.com

Greenhouse Supplies

USED NURSERY POTS FOR SALE 1 gal . . .9c 2 gal . .15c 3 gal . .19c

Voluntown, CT

Farm Equipment

4 gal . .25c 5 gal . .50c

For Sale: Mini Baler NH excellent condition, makes 10”x11” decorative bales, $6,300. Call 518-527-3552

7 gal . .60c Please Call Frank Geiger 203-255-1024

Geiger’s Garden Center 40 Bel ont St. Fairfield, CT 06430 FOR SALE: MINI STRAW BALERS, makes ornamental bales 3”x4”x7” or 4”x5½x10” bales. Sell well at auctions, markets, stands. Low inputs, great returns. Send for information. Countryside Machine Shop, 2682 460TH Road, Gentry, MO 64453

Fish LIVE GAME FISH Oldest Fish Hatchery Estab. 1900

Fish ZETTS FISH FARM & HATCHERIES Large Selection of Game Fish Pond Equipment & Supplies, Aquatic Plants

Truck, Air, U.P.S. Parcel Post Delivery

Koi

SEND FOR COMPLETE CATALOG P.O. BOX 239, DRIFTING, PA 16834 PHONE: 814-345-5357 www.zettsfish.com

Black Currants Red Currants Red Rhubarb Asparagus

Heating

www. equipmentexplorer. com Search All of our Auction and Used Equipment Ads at One Time!

Auction & Used Equipment Ads From:

• Country Folks • Country Folks Grower • Hard Hat News • North American Quarry News • Waste Handling Equipment News are combined into our searchable database

www. equipmentexplorer. com

( 800 ) 836-2888 PO Box 121, 6113 State Hwy. 5 ( ) Fax: 518 673-2381 Palatine Bridge, NY 13428 E-mail: classified@leepub.com Help Wanted

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

JOHNNY'S SELECTED SEEDS is a privately held, employee-owned seed producer and merchant headquartered in Winslow, Maine, USA. The company was established in 1973 by our Founder and Chairman Rob Johnston, Jr. Johnny's mission is helping families, friends, and communities to feed one another by providing superior seeds, tools, information and service.

(See us at Johnnyseeds.com) Johnny's is known for supplying superior seeds, tools, information, and service to direct market growers and avid home gardeners. We find or design and sell outstanding varieties of vegetables, cut flowers, herbs, and thoughtfully designed tools and equipment. We pride ourselves on the wealth of information and experience we provide to our core customer base.

Wee aree leaderss inn ourr industryy andd wee aree growing!! Wee aree a strong,, stablee companyy andd willl stayy thhatt wayy becausee wee aree frugall andd passionatee aboutt whatt wee do!

Vice President of Sales and Marketing

Trials Manager

We have an opening for a seasoned Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Our Sales and Marketing organization is located in Fairfield, Maine and includes a state of the art contact center. We are a multi channel provider that includes Direct Sales, Catalog, Web, and Phone. We are looking for an individual that has broad experience across all these channels. We are interested in individuals who have experience in the seed or agriculture industry.

We have an opening for a seasoned Trials Manager. Our Research organization is located in Albion, Maine as well as contracted farms in other states. Each year we trial new variety releases, competitive and currently offered varieties to ensure our product offering meets the demands of the diversified direct small commercial grower. This includes trialing varieties in a variety of different cultural methods and seasons to select the best varieties and give us the experience to know how it will perform on the farm for our growers.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

Help Wanted

FLORASEARCH, INC.

In our 3rd decade of performing confidential key employee searches for the nursery, greenhouse, and horticulture industries and allied trades worldwide. Retained basis only.

Candidate contact welcome, confidential, and always free.

FLORASEARCH, INC. 1740 Lake Markham Road Sanford, FL 32771 407-320-8177 7 (phone)) • 407-320-8083 3 (fax) Email: search@florasearch.com Web Site: www.florasearch.com

Johnny's Vice President of Sales and Marketing is responsible for the strategic Key Duties & Responsibilities: direction and daily operation of the Order Acquisition process. It includes Direct Sales Johnny's Trial Manager is responsible to support the product development process Representatives, Contact Center, Marketing, and Customer Service. by overseeing the management of the product evaluation process of prospective new Critical Functions: products. The Trials Manager accomplishes this by way of rigorous and selective internal and external trialing leading to superior products and information that meets * We don't really want "7 -10 years of Sales and Marketing experience;" we want the high quality standards of Johnny's Customers. the qualities we assume will come from that experience. * Someone with the ability to think on one's feet, to know the right answer almost instinctively, to be able to rely on a wealth of contacts and wisdom, * Someone who is as comfortable working with our customers as they are watching, reacting, and strategizing with the numbers. * Our company is seasoned in the business of Product Development, Order Acquisition and Fulfillment, and we require someone who is willing to challenge, teach, and guide us to higher levels. * Someone who understands the interconnectedness of business and not just the functional expertise. * Someone with an innate ability to quickly dissect difficult operational problems and driven to get the operational flow back to peak as soon as possible. * Someone with past experience developing a world class Sales and Marketing Organization. * Someone with a bachelor degree and formal or practical education at the master's level. * Someone with experience in developing a Sales and Marketing organization that has a strong technical component. * Experience in a multi channel sales organization within a niche market.

If you take pride in your ability to look at an order acquisition flow and not only see the opportunities for improvement but also the potential bottlenecks of future growth then you want to talk to us!

Critical Functions: * We don't really want "7 -10 years of Research and Trialing experience;" we want the qualities we assume will come from that experience. * Someone with the ability to think on one's feet, to know the right answer almost instinctively, to be able to think strategically and problem solve, * Someone who is as comfortable working with our customers and has a broad understanding of products and customer needs. * Someone who can support the evaluation and trial needs from start to finish and can bring us to a higher level of information gathering. * Someone who understands the interconnectedness of business and not just the functional expertise. * Someone with an innate ability to evaluate, understand and develop alternative or new trial methods, technologies, processes to ensure we are meeting the demands and needs of our customers. * Someone with past experience developing budgets, working with and managing trialing staff. * Someone who enjoys working on a team during a fast passed growing season.

If you have a passion for selecting the best products to create success for our growers and pride yourself on your ability to lead an effective team, then you want to talk to us!

GREENHOUSE MANAGER Are you looking for a career instead of just a job? Do you feel a sense of ownership in your work? Then Johnny's Selected Seeds is looking for you!

Johnny's Selected Seeds is an employee-owned seed producer and merchant headquartered in Winslow, Maine, USA. The company was established in 1973 by our Founder and Chairman, Rob Johnston, Jr. Johnny's mission is, "Helping families, friends, and communities to feed one another by providing superior seeds, tools, information, and service."

To this end, Johnny's works as a team of employee owners and is currently recruiting a Greenhouse Manager to be part of our team. As an employee owner at Johnny's, you will be part of a team focused on providing superior seeds, tools, information, and service.

You will be responsible for the propagating, cultivating, and harvesting crops in our greenhouses and high tunnels, as well as designing and maintaining those structures and their mechanicals.

You will work at our Albion Research Farm where the breeding work, trials, and seed production activities are held.

Key Job Elements: Raise healthy plants year round using organic methods, from seedlings for field transplanting to mature plants for indoor breeding nurseries and trials. Your internal customers will be doing the work of trials, breeding, and seed production.

You will manage our covered structures inside and out, including the set-up, adjustment, monitoring and maintenance of heating and cooling, fertigation and irrigation systems, and coverings.

You have farm-scale plant prorogation know-how, particularly vegetables, flowers, and herbs. Working knowledge of IPM, beneficial insects, and organic strategies. Soil and tissue analysis sample gathering, submissions to third-party labs, and follow-up.

You have knowledge of business and management principles involved in coordination of people and resources.

In addition to your resume, please send us a letter of interest that describes why you think you are suited to and would excel in this position along with your salary requirements to:

You will make constant improvements to plant propagation and facilities maintenance. You will inventory and maintain greenhouse propagation supplies. You are capable and at ease with maintaining detailed records.

You will seek creative ideas and new methods of greenhouse production. You will be energetic in gleaning information from outside sources, at trade shows and greenhouse events.

You have good communication skills. You will be providing oral and written information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates. And building and maintaining relationships with vendors, university and cooperative extension personnel, crop advisors and greenhouse suppliers.

You are capable of the research, design, and purchase and overseeing of construction of new greenhouses and covered structures within time and budget considerations. This includes greenhouse orientation, foundation needs, heating, cooling and ventilation systems controls and design, cost analysis of various structures from different manufacturers and the purchase, delivery, construction and start-up of the new structure along with its contents.

You have a sense of urgency in meeting deadlines and objectives, while balancing and optimizing multiple priorities. Problem solving skills and willingness to take responsibility for those decisions. Acceptance of constructive criticism and ideas & opinions while remaining objective in the quest for optimum results.

Essential Physical Requirements: Ability to read, count, and write to accurately complete all documentation.

Ability to freely access all areas and locations of the business and in all different types of weather.

Ability to work varied hours/days as business dictates.

The ability to travel occasionally for training.

Ability to bend, stand, walk, and lift up to 50 lbs.

Education Requirements: We prefer an associate's or bachelors degree and/or at least 3-5 years of experience in horticulture, preferably in mixed market gardening.

jssees@johnnyseeds.com Human Resources 955 Benton Avenue • Winslow, ME 04901

www.cfgrower.com

1-800-836-2888 To place a Classified Ad

Page 19 - Section B • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • October 2012

Country Folks Grower Classifieds

October 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • Section B - Page 20

Country Folks Grower Classifieds

( 800 ) 836-2888 PO Box 121, 6113 State Hwy. 5 ( ) Fax: 518 673-2381 Palatine Bridge, NY 13428 E-mail: classified@leepub.com Help Wanted

Help Wanted

Not-for-profit environmental organization based in Lowell, MA has the following opening.

Environmental Analyst (Agronomist) Ray Brook or Warrensburg, NY The New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) is seeking an Environmental Analyst to work at NYS DEC Region 5. Location (Ray Brook or Warrensburg) to be negotiated with successful candidate. Work with many partners to provide Lake Champlain Basin-wide coordination, outreach, and training in support of the New York State Agricultural Environmental Management Program and other agricultural/water quality initiatives. Provide assistance to farmers in a variety of water quality and nutrient management issues.

The successful candidate will hold a Bachelor's degree in Agronomy, Agricultural Science, Agricultural Engineering, Animal Science, Agricultural Economics, Environmental Biology, Natural Resources Conservation or closely related field. An Associate's degree in similar field with two years of experience may substitute. Knowledge of water quality management practices and principles, agricultural crop production practices and nutrient management and soil health for crop production and water quality management required.

Excellent communication skills a must.

Please send resume and cover letter by October 5, 2012 to jobs@neiwpcc.org or Human Resources, NEIWPCC, 116 John Street, Lowell, MA 01852. For full job description, see www.neiwpcc.org.

Lumber & Wood Products LOCUST 4x4’s, fence posts, split rails, lumber. Natural, chemical free non poisonous alternative to pressure treated that has strength and lasts a lifetime. 518-883-8284

Nursery Liners COMPLETE LIST of deciduous and evergreen seedlings and transplants at www.hramornursery.com or call 231-723-4846 Hramor Nursery LLC, 2267 Merkey Rd., Manistee, MI 49660

Nursery Stock

Nursery Stock

2-1/2 ACRES of nursery stock, Orange County, NY. 40 varieties of trees, schrubs, evergreens, ground cover.

Flats & tools. Will sell all very reasonable. Too old to do the work! 845-692-4476, fax 845692-2927

LEYLAND CYPRESS: 3 gallon 36-42”, $10.00. Quantity discounts. Also larger sizes.

OT T E R B E I N N U R S E RY, Newburg, PA 717-423-0119, 717-423-0146(Fax)

CANAAN FIR PLUGS + 1 & 2’s (Great Prices!!) Contact me for more information. Craig Alterio, Pal-System Nursery, PO Box 454, Howard, PA 16841. 814-625-2618

WHITE PINES, SEMISHEARED, 5,000, 10’ to 14’. $2.00 per foot, you dig. www.shelterwoodfarm.com Hartly, Delaware 302-4928071

NORWAY SPRUCE 5’ to 9’.

Quantities only. 570-916-5514

Japanese Maples-Bare Root

Real Estate For Sale

FOR SALE

UPSTATE NEW YORK Property has 2 ranges of greenhouses totaling 300,000 S.F. Lower range consists of 12 36’x358’ ridge & furrow aluminum frame with double acrylic covering. This range has recent Priva Environmental computer system. Heating system consists of 2 oil fired low pressure steam boilers in separate building. This range also has refrigerator in separate building with loading docks. All greenhouse equipment included. Plus 100+/- acres!!

1,950,000 ealty USA .com

Grafted three year old container grown-nice size Twenty varieties availableCall for brochure FREE shipping $11.50 per tree See our display Ad Kelleygreen Nursery Paul Ferretti-Sales Rep 843-832-1500 office 843-814-1757cell 843-695-0794 fax pauljferretti@bellsouth.net

Reduced

$

R

Tony Sabatino Licensed Assoc. Broker 518-857-6999 tonys330@aol.com

LARGE VARIETY of Evergreens, Flowering Trees, Shrubs & Natives in larger sizes. Pre-dug trees available.

700 acres of quality field grown material. 40 years experience. Roger Coffey & Sons Wholesale Nursery P h : 8 2 8 - 7 5 9 - 7 1 5 7 Fa x : 828-758-9285 email: sales@rogercoffeyandsons.com www.rogercoffeyandsons.com

Plants

Real Estate For Sale

Plants

Real Estate For Sale

Real Estate For Sale

HUDSON VALLEY: Established vegetable farm, Farmstand w/15 acres on State Hwy, 27acres w/underground main irrigation line and risers, Main House w/13 acres two barns for storage and packing, Labor Quarters. Established Farmers Markets and wholesale customers. All parcels have water for irrigation.

Owner relocating. $659,000. Call David Barnes Coldwell Banker Village Green 845-687-4355 x-117 ulster_realtor@yahoo.com

ORANGE COUNTY, NY FOR SALE OR LEASE 3.8 acres, 5 bedroom house, 2 large walk-in closets, 2 baths, living room, dining room, eat-in kitchen, enclosed porch. 10 greenhouses, 3 cold frames, selling area, 2 garages. On major road.

Sale Price $450,000 For More Information Call

845-778-3460 845-778-2491

Nursery Stock

Native Plants

1 GALLON: Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Pine, Canadian Hemlock, Burning Bush, Forsythia, 16” to 24”, $3.00 each. 570-673-8178, ask for Charles, Canton,PA

NATIVE GRASSES, sedges, rushes, wildflowers, and herbaceous plants for use in wetland mitigation, restoration, and landscape design.

Contract growing available.

Signature Horticultural Services, Freeland, MD. Call 410329-6466 or fax 410-3292156.

#1½ 6-7’ Douglas Fir, $15.00; #2 Douglas Fir, $13.00. 814404-4662

Nursery Stock

Nursery Stock

Refrigeration

Refrigeration

AMERICAN WHOLESALE CO.

NEW/USED WALK-IN-COOLER ~ FREEZER BOXES ~ REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS ~ EQUIPMENT Large Inventory ~ All Sizes • Buy • Sell ~ Nationwide • Wholesale Prices

Phone: (216) 426-8882 • www.awrco.com Real Estate For Sale

Real Estate For Sale

CED

U RED

Roofing

Roofing

ROOFING & SIDING 22 Acre Tree Farm with breathtaking views of 4 states! Includes two houses, 1 totally renovated, 1 built in 1989, established Christmas tree farm/landscaping business, 30x60 Morton building, all equipment, inventory and client base.

Owner business assistance offered! Over 22,000 trees. A spectacular property and investment located in Boonsboro, MD - $1,700,000.

Lynnettee Potterr - RE/MAX X Achievers 301-739-4800 0 • 301-573-8470 0 (cell) lpotter07@aol.com m www.lynn netteatremax.com

e Metall Roofing g & Siding..

BUY DIRECT – Wee manufacture

ABM M & ABX X Panell - Standingg Seam m - PBR R Panel LOW PRICES - FAST DELIVERY – FREE LITERATURE

A.B. MARTIN ROOFING SUPPLY, LLC Ephrata, PA 1-800-373-3703 N e w v i l l e , PA 1-800-782-2712

Full line Pole Building material. ~ Lumber - Trusses - Plywood.

www.abmartin.net • Email: sales@abmartin.net

( 800 ) 836-2888 PO Box 121, 6113 State Hwy. 5 ( ) Fax: 518 673-2381 Palatine Bridge, NY 13428 E-mail: classified@leepub.com Scales

Scales

Trees

Trees

HALABURA TREE FARMS 35 Dreher Rd. Orwigsburg, PA (Schuylkill Co.) 570-943-2137 office 570-943-7692 fax Douglas Fir Concolor Fir Hemlock Shade & Flowering Trees Available

White Pine Norway Spruce Arborvitae

Cut & B&B available • Reasonable Prices • Delivery Available

Seeds

Services Offered

Trees

V I S S E E D C O M PA N Y: Specializing in flower seeds from around the world.

Seeds, plugs, cuttings.

Offering the best annual, perennial, vegetable & herb seeds. Celebrating 25 years!

Contact us for a current catalog. PO Box 661953, Arcadia, CA 91066. (P) 626-4451233, (F) 626-445-3779, hvis@visseed.com, www.visseed.com

WEDDING INVITATIONS printed and designed by Lee Publications: 100 (4.5x6) Invitations including envelopes with 100 RSVP postcards.

Only $150.00 +tax. We can also do smaller and larger amounts. Call for pricing and designs 518-673-0101, or bsnyder@leepub.com Also Save the Dates • Shower Invitations • Baby Announcements and more.

THOUSANDS OF TREES available for digging. High quality Canaan fir and CBS. Easy & level access. Near Cumberland, MD. 814-8423775 or pvtf@hotmail.com

Services Offered CANVAS PRINTS: All sizes.

Mounted or Unmounted. Just bring in or send us your photo at Lee Publications. Call 518673-0101 bsnyder@leepub.com

Sprayers

Sprayers

Blue Spruce Serbian Spruce Frazier Fir

Trees

Country Folks Grower Classifieds PO Box 121, Palatine Bridge, NY 13428

4. classified@leepub.com - Go to www.cfgrower.com 5.ON-LINE and follow the Place a Classified E-MAIL IT IN - E-mail your ad to

Ad button to place your ad 24/7!

Cost for each Issue per Zone: $9.25 for the first 14 words, 30¢ each additional word.

(Phone #’s count as one word) # of issues to run______ Total Cost $________ Zone(s) to run in: East Midwest West

$9.25 $9.55

$9.85

$10.15

$10.45

$10.75

$11.05

$11.35

$11.65

$11.95

$12.25

$12.55

$12.85

$13.15

$13.45

$13.75

$14.05

$14.35

$14.65

$14.95

$15.25

Name: (Print)_____________________________________________________________ Address:________________________________________________________________ City:________________________________________St.:_________Zip:_____________ Phone:_________________________________Fax:______________________________ Cell:___________________________E-mail:____________________________________ I have enclosed a Check/Money Order Please charge my credit card: American Express Discover Visa MasterCard Acct#:_________________________________________________Exp. Date:_________ (MM/YY) Signature:_______________________________________________Date:____________ Required w/Credit Card Payment Only

If you have used equipment for sale, ask about our group of weekly farm newspapers that cover from Maine to North Carolina.

Truck Parts & Equipment

Meyers 8118 Truck Box 18’ Load Space - 33 Yard Capacity, Barn Door Gate, Opening in Rear for Chipper Discharge, Truck Mount - Hydraulic Drive Unloader, Side to Side Electric Operated Tarp.

Columbia Tractor, Inc. Call 518-828-1781

Calendar of Events E-mail announcements of your regional event(s) to: jkarkwren@leepub.com We must receive your information, plus a contact phone number, prior to the deadline that’s noted under the Announcements heading on the 1st page of these Grower Classifieds. *** OCT 6 Connecticut CTGA Annual Fall Meeting Maple Row, Easton, CT. Contact Kathy Kogut, 203237-9400 or e-mail kogut@cox.net. On Internet at www.christmastree.org

3.

the form attached completely and fax to Peggy at (518) 673-2381 MAIL IT IN - Fill out the attached form, calculate the cost, enclose your check or credit card information and mail to:

FOR BEST RESULTS, RUN YOUR AD FOR TWO ISSUES!

WANT TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD? CALL: 1-800836-2888 Truck Parts & Equipment

5 EASY WAYS TO PLACE A COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER CLASSIFIED AD IT IN - Just give Peggy a call at 1. PHONE1-800-836-2888 FAX IT IN - For you MasterCard,Visa, 2. American Express or Discover customers... Fill out

OCT 10-13 IPPS Eastern Region 62st Annual Meeting Brandywine Valley, PA. Contact Margot Bridgen, 631765-9638 or e-mail ippser@gmail.com.

On

I n t e r n e t a t www.ipps.org/EasternNA OCT 13 2012 Fall Nursery Tour Johnston’s Evergreen Nursery Station Tree Farm, 7944 Station Rd., Erie, PA. 911:30 am. Tours involve walking and are held rain or shine, come dressed for any kind of weather! Cost is $15 with refreshments. Contact Scott Sjolander, 814-3337440 or e-mail sas305@psu.edu.

OCT 18 Designing with Natives URI Kingston Campus, CBLS Auditorium. This workshop is offered free to the green industry by the University of Rhode Island, in cooperation with the Rhode Island Nursery & Landscape Association and the Rhode Island Natural History Survey through a Northeast SARE grant. Preregistration is required as space is limited. Call 401874-2900 or e-mail outreach@uri.edu.

OCT 20 2012 Fall Nursery Tour Cottage Gardens, 4945 East State St., Hermitage, PA. 911:30 am. Tours involve walking and are held rain or shine, come dressed for any kind of weather! Cost is $15 with refreshments. Contact Scott Sjolander, 814-3337440 or e-mail sas305@psu.edu.

OCT 24 Attracting and Conserving Natural Enemies in Plant Production Yards and Greenhouses Publick House, Sturbridge, MA. 9:30 am - 3:30 pm. Registration by mail or online at http://extension.umass.edu /floriculture.

Montgomery County Sustainable Landscapes Bus Tour Montgomery County Conservation District Office, 143 Level Rd., Collegeville, PA. Visit a variety of sites that incorporate green stormwater practices, native plantings and more. Contact Jessica Sprajcar, 717 798 2409 or e-mail jsprajcar@pa.gov.

On Internet at http://www.dcnr.state.pa.u s/conservationscience/ sustainablelands/ conferences/index.htm OCT 25 Invasive Plant Symposium University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. 8 am - 4:20 pm.

Full program and registration information, including online registration are available on the CIPWG website at www.hort.uconn.edu/cipwg.

Contact Donna Ellis, 860486-6448 or e-mail donna.ellis@uconn.edu.

OCT 25-27 Planet Green Industry Conference Kentucky Expo Center & the Louisville Downtown Marriott, Louisville, KY. On Internet at www.Green IndustryConference.org NOV 2-6 2012 Irrigation Show & Education Conference Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL. Call e m a i l info@irrigationshow.org.

NOV 5 2012 Advanced Growers’ Fall Seminar: Profitable Year Round Farming & Marketing Stonehill College, The Martin Institute, 320 Washington St., Easton, MA. 8:30 am 5:30 pm. Contact Sarah Cogswell, e-mail scogswell@semaponline.org.

Page 21 - Section B • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • October 2012

Country Folks Grower Classifieds

October 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • Section B - Page 22

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of web. t Foodan even greater numberthe ing on the 2002 the Gourme In 2001 and and 29 the customers. Most of Gourmet On June 28 ip came togeth their last year will membersh its first the Maine SFP’s will stage Food vendors from and we exand completed ifying MG& again Gour met ucerand’sexhibit erstrate History of 2 Annual in- be back have many new Prod gic plan ident to includ- Festival. Last year 25 Food ty to- pect en to be Trade Show the three major goals ial at happ came posicts inec you a If ote members a susta to bers produ trip And Sp And to prom g the ing, Creating tent on ones. a s- trepid pro- mem

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large aggre ol durin group of of foods of planning Maine on that gether in a State capit of Agricul- able organization, tive image In 1987 a small in front marssed in t Freeport, producers see and proce the green Departmen at the Legis- sively promote and member come by and specialty food ia- duced ization, its SFP’s samfirst assoc ’. weekend ture’s ‘Ag day ket the organ products MG& r’s lots of free Chocolates formed the ote Maine’s Maine. the organiza- lature’. and to us. With ‘Wilbu from you Since then MG&SFP’s members tion to prom try. lent exposure a ples to choose to over 60 ber ben’!

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Gritty Deta vements will be work be password be limThe Nitty Marketing and the impro de a will will Seminar it will provi search and June 13 Portl ons will focus on selland access completed bringing with processor locati of serv- ed alist, two food level in r ito Speci ct placement ar held iate much highe and ited years of exper , out and produ This semin and assoc restaucustomers him seven ct from roll , media alty stores, e members It will provide produ ice to our eting speci to your resum mark cts ing shows, corWe will produ ence in members. line gement. He members.

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For More Information Contact Your Local Representative or Country Folks Grower, PO Box 121, Palatine Bridge, NY 13428 • 800-218-5586 Advertising and Print Jobs: Dan Wren 518-673-0117 • Email dwren@leepub.com Editorial: Joan KarkWren 518-673-0141 • Email jkarkwren@leepub.com

Page 23 - Section B • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • October 2012

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October 2012 • COUNTRY FOLKS GROWER • Section B - Page 24

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NEW YORK (cont)

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Supplement to Country Folks GROWER

PAGE 1

FALL EDITION • October 2012

MARKETPLACE

Wessels Farm

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PAGE 2

FALL EDITION • October 2012

MARKETPLACE Advertise in Country Folks

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Changes to the hazard communication standard are coming

by James Carrabba, The New York Center for Agricultural Medicine & Health — NYCAMH The Hazard Communication Standard, (HCS) 29 CFR 1910.1200 is a law administered by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and is applicable to agricultural workplaces. The purpose of this law is to ensure chemical safety in the workplace. Under this law, the identities and hazards of workplace chemicals must be available and understandable to workers. Employers are required to inform workers of any chemical hazards in the workplace and to train workers on how to protect themselves from these hazards. In the past, this standard was sometimes referred to as “The Right to Know”, because under the law, workers have the right to know about the hazards of the chemicals that they work with.

The HCS is now in alignment with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). These new changes will

make it much easier for workers to identify chemical hazards and understand the potential hazards of chemicals that they must work with. According to OSHA, these updates will provide a more uniform and easier to understand approach for classifying chemicals and communicating hazard information on labels and safety data sheets. The former Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) will now be called Safety Data Sheets (SDS) under the new revisions. These changes will make it safer for workers by providing easily understandable information on appropriate handling and safe use of hazardous chemicals. These new changes were announced on March 26, 2012.

Changes to the HCS will be phased in over the next few years and will be fully implemented by June 1, 2016.

Major Changes to the Hazard Communication Standard: • Hazard Classification: Provides specific criteria for classification of

Changes

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DON’T MISS THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES

NOVEMBER • Winter & Spring Planning • NE Greenhouse Conference • Deadline Oct. 11TH

DECEMBER • New Varieties • Fruit & Vegetable Equipment • Deadline Noon (due to Holiday) Nov. 15TH

JANUARY • Winter Show Issue • Deadline Noon (due to Holiday) Dec. 13TH

GHS Hazard Pictograms that will appear on chemical labels. Each pictogram has a white background framed by a red border. The pictogram used on the label is determined by the chemical hazard classification.

Contact (800) 218-5586 dwren@leepub.com

PAGE 3

FALL EDITION • October 2012

MARKETPLACE Changes from 2 health and physical hazards, as well as classification of mixtures.

• Labels: Chemical manufacturers and importers will be required to provide a label and SDS that includes a harmonized signal word, pictogram, and hazard statement for each hazard class and category. By June 1, 2015, GHS standardized pictograms will be required on chemical labels to warn of hazards that each chemical has. Precautionary statements must also be provided.

• Safety Data Sheets (SDS): (formerly known as MSDS) Will now have specific 16 section format.

• Information and Training: Impor-

tant to note; employers are required to train workers by Dec. 1, 2013 on the new label elements and SDS format to facilitate recognition and understanding.

Other provisions of the HCS have not changed. To be in compliance with this standard, a business must have a written hazard communication program.

The hazard communication program must address these six areas: 1. Name a person responsible for overseeing the program 2. Create an inventory of all chemicals at the worksite 3. Properly label all chemical containers 4. Obtain and keep on file a SDS for

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each chemical 5. Train workers on how to read product labels and SDS’s 6. Train workers on how to protect themselves from the chemicals and document training The HCS states that SDS’s must be readily available to workers. Workers are free to consult the SDS anytime they have a question about a particular chemical. Before using a chemical, it is a good idea to check the SDS. The SDS will list the personal protective equipment needed and the appropriate first aid measures that should be taken in case of an emergency. Worker training is an important component of

complying with the HCS. The employee training should include an explanation of the standard, how to read a label and SDS, where to find the SDS’s, types of chemicals used in the workplace, how to protect themselves from these chemicals and how to use the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Employers need to document the training. Pesticide labels are exempt from the HCS, but they will have the new SDS’s and need to be included in a farm’s HCS program. Pesticide labels are covered under the EPA Worker Protection Standard (WPS), 40 CFR 1970.

FALL EDITION • October 2012

PAGE 4

MARKETPLACE A Greener Way to Fertilize Nursery Crops

by Dennis O’Brien A U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientist has found a “green” alternative to a type of fertilizer additive that is believed to contribute to the accumulation of heavy metals in waterways.

Ornamental nursery and floral crops require micronutrients like iron, manganese, copper and zinc. But fertilizers that provide these micronutrients often include synthetically produced compounds that bind with the micronutrients so they are available in the root zone.

The most commonly used compounds, known as chelating agents, are not readily biodegradable, and can extract metals from sediments. Their use is believed to add to the amounts of iron and other heavy metals that sometimes flow into or become soluble in waterways. Concerns in Europe about one, called EDTA, have prompted calls there for use of alternative

chelating agents.

Joseph Albano, a horticulturalist with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce, FL, thinks he has found a “green” alternative for the floral and nursery crop industries.

ARS is USDA’s principal intramural scientific research agency, and this research supports USDA’s commitment to agricultural sustainability.

Albano’s alternative chelating agent is known as EDDS. It is a natural compound that is biodegradable and less likely to persist in the environment.

In a series of studies, Albano grew marigolds in standard soil-less potting media using fertilizers formulated with EDDS or one of two commonly used chelating agents: EDTA and DTPA. Each of the three treatments was chelated with iron so Albano could assess the effectiveness of EDDS as a fertilizer iron source.

The results showed that EDDS was a

suitable chelating agent for use in fertilizers. There were no differences in plant growth or leaf-tissue iron levels among plants grown with iron-EDDS, those grown with iron-EDTA, or those grown with iron-DTPA fertilizers.

Iron-chelates, like iron-EDTA and iron-DTPA, degrade when exposed to light (photodegradation), so they are often stored in opaque containers that prevent exposure to sunlight. Albano also assessed iron-EDDS photodegradation and discovered that iron-EDDS degraded more quickly than ironEDTA when exposed to light, which

would contribute to its low persistence in the environment. Given how quickly it degrades, Albano recommends that iron-EDDS chelates also be stored in opaque containers.

The report, published in HortScience, was the first peer -reviewed study to evaluate EDDS as a chelating agent in fertilizers used in the production of a floricultural crop, according to Albano. The work is expected to encourage the use of EDDS as an environmentally friendly chelating agent in floral and nursery crop operations.

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FALL EDITION • October 2012

PAGE 5

MARKETPLACE Smart Marketing includes services & relationships not just products

by Brian M. Henehan, Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University In agriculture, we have a tendency in marketing to focus most of our attention on the hard products we produce and bring to market — fruits, vegetables, meat, grains, milk, or cheese. Today’s markets demand more attention

to the services and relationships associated with marketing the actual product itself. The smart marketer is one who not only produces a high quality product, but also delivers needed services and builds effective relationships with customers.

A useful way to examine these questions of services and relationships is to

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begin with the old journalistic outline of — who, what, where, when, why, and how. We also need to understand the distinction between a customer and the consumer. Our customers may actually be consumers if we are direct marketers. But usually a relationship with some type of intermediary customer is required to get the farm product to the end-user, the consumer.

Typical intermediary customers in the food system can include: wholesalers, retail supermarket buyers, food service buyers, brokers, or processors.

Who are you doing business with? If you are a direct marketer, know your consumer. Who are they in regards to: age, income, residence, family size, gender, ethnic group, etc.? How is your consumer base changing? What services will enhance your relationship with your consumers? If you are working with other types of customers, learn about their operations: sales, distribution, terms of trade, transaction protocols, etc. How do your customers understand the consumers that buy your products? What information about consumers can they share with you, or you with them, to assist both of you in better serving them?

What makes your product superior?

What differentiates your product from the rest of the pack? What will make your product more attractive to your customers or consumers? What will your product bring to the assortment of products your customer markets?

What information can you provide along with your product (nutritional values, recipes, portion sizes, variety, etc.) to increase sales?

Where will your product have to

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PAGE 6

FALL EDITION • October 2012

MARKETPLACE Marketing from 5 end up to effectively serve your customers or consumers? How will your product hold up in transit? Will your product arrive in a package ready for store display or use in the kitchen?

Are there any ways to make life easier for those who buy your products in regards to scheduling or delivery?

Can you better coordinate shipping with other firms shipping similar products in your area?

When does your product need to arrive? Time is of the essence for all of us. How can you cut your customer’s time spent receiving or handling your product? Are there ways to minimize the time your consumer (convenient parking, check-out) or customer (processing invoices or payment) does business with you? Just-in-time delivery and automated inventory replenishment are becoming standard business practices in both the retail and food service industries.

Why should your customer do business with you in regards to the services you offer and the value you bring to the business relationship? Why should you be considered a “preferred” supplier by your customer?

Why should your ability to attract consumers to your product add value to your customers business?

How will you better understand what services and relationships will

be needed to insure the effective marketing of your products? In a rapidly changing marketplace, those services and relationships are changing. How will your services increase the productivity and profitability of your customers?

In summary, smart marketers not only deliver high quality products that are relevant to consumers, but must also provide valuable services to build effective relationships with customers.

Hopefully, answering some of these questions might shed some light on how to improve your marketing capacity. In the haste to produce the hard product itself, don’t forget the needed services and relationships that will keep your product on the shelf, on the plate, or in the hands of consumers.

Smart marketers not only deliver high quality products that are relevant to consumers, but must also provide valuable services to build effective relationships with customers.

Photo by Joan Kark-Wren

PAGE 1

WINTER EDITION • January 2012 Supplement to Country Folks GROWER

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MARKETPLACE

Country Folks Grower Will Have A Marketplace Glossy Section In The January Winter Show Issue

There is limited space Full Coverage available so contact us early Special Rates to reserve your spot.

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PAGE 8

FALL EDITION • October 2012

MARKETPLACE

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