PUTNEY — The weather since last year's apple harvest has defied traditional patterns.
Vermont saw a white Halloween, followed by a snowless winter and a remarkably warm March before a chilly April and May. In addition to being a source of endless frustration to those who favor the predictability of Vermont's seasonal changes, the erratic spring weather has damaged this year's apple crop.
According to Evan and Andrea Darrow of Green Mountain Orchards in Putney, the warm weather in March prompted the trees to bloom early. The premature bloom, followed by cold temperatures through spring, killed a large number of the blossoms.
“Normally, cold temperatures at that time wouldn't be a problem,” said Evan Darrow. “It was the earlier warm temperatures that were the problem.”
Green Mountain Orchards workers estimate they have lost 50 percent of this year's apple crop.
Zeke Goodband, orchard manager of Scott Farm in Dummerston, said the orchard saw damage to blossoms during that freezing weather. Although unsure of the exact amount of damage, Goodband gauges that it was less than 50 percent.
Green Mountain Orchards has disaster crop insurance, but will not be compensated for their loss unless the loss exceeds 50 percent.
“It really has to be a complete disaster for it to kick in,” said Andrea Darrow.
Scott Farm faces the same dilemma: they have crop insurance, but Goodband doubts their loss is large enough to qualify for compensation.
More expensive crop insurance policies that offer broader coverage do exist, but the Darrows are hesitant to spend the extra money unless they are sure that they will need it for future years.
“It really feels like a gamble...then you're almost hoping for crop damage,” said Andrea Darrow of the more expensive plans.
Although the loss that Green Mountain Orchards and Scott Farm experienced this year is a source of concern, owners of fruit farms fear what these recent weather patterns suggest about the future.
Similar weird spring weather occurred in 2010, which did similar damage to that year's apple crop.
“Two years out of three is way more than what we've seen in the last 30 years,” said Andrea Darrow.
Goodband also expressed concern over the increased occurrence of springs like these.
“We monitor very carefully the temperature in the growing season,” he said. “I've noticed that the springs are warming up earlier.”
This threatening pattern could prove to be a major setback to Vermont orchards in the future.
Adaptation is the key
On top of the irregular weather, current economic conditions for apple farming are harsh, because of increased domestic competition, with heavy production in Washington state, and international competition.
“We feel the apple industry has been coming out of a recession since the 1990s, when the Chinese apple flood poured into the continent, and lots of new orchards were coming into production,” said Evan Darrow.
Despite these accounts of changing weather patterns and difficult economic times, local farms are by no means giving up. Their flexibility in times of change and capitalization on the local market are helping to ensure their survival.
Although Goodband said, “The weather is one thing you can't really prepare for,” he said he believes that adaptation to changing climate patterns is key.
“Relying on what worked in previous generations doesn't work,” he said. “You have to be pretty flexible and adapt as conditions change.”
Indeed, Scott Farm has adjusted to the changing temperatures by growing apple varieties that fare better in a slightly warmer climate.
“Some varieties that we couldn't grow very well 25 years ago have become fairly reliable,” said Goodband.
Although the changing climate is “not great news,” Goodband said that “we've tried to adapt and take advantage where we can see that it might open an opportunity.”
The local market will be essential for Vermont apple farmers in staying afloat during these competitive times.
“Our bright light has been growing the retail business, and trying to capitalize on local,” said Evan Darrow. “Retail is probably more than 25 percent of our gross. Before that, we didn't even know how to spell the word.”
Scott Farm also relies on local markets.
“About half the crop stays in Vermont and the rest goes not too far away, generally in New England,” said Goodband.
Both growers emphasize that, despite complications, all is not lost. The Darrows and Goodband say that their respective orchards will be ready for the fall apple season.
“When an article like this comes out, people tend to think there won't be any apples this fall. I wouldn't want to encourage that,” added Goodband. “We have plenty of apples that will be for sale.”