This past week the Harvard Press published an article about local crop damage following the below-freezing temperature May 18. We wanted to elaborate a little more about what our community-supported agriculture (CSA) members and customers can expect as we forge ahead into the 2023 season with optimism, but also an understanding that our current trajectory isn’t sustainable.
At the end of 2019 the farm was in a good place, all our numbers were tracking well and we were fairly confident for the future. But a lot changed in just a few months as we did our best navigating the challenges of a global pandemic. Like many farmers, we were grateful to see a huge shift to support local food and small business. Unfortunately, the unforeseen financial impacts of increased operating expenses, coupled with lower revenues, can still be felt today.
In addition, the past two growing seasons have been trying. 2021 was extremely wet, followed by a record drought in 2022, both of which impacted our crop yields and the farm’s revenue considerably.
After the deep freeze in February that wiped out our entire stone fruit crop (peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots, and cherries) we had to brace ourselves for the financial impact that would have on the farm. Since we had experienced this before in 2016 we knew the diversity of our crops would be instrumental in making things work.
Sadly, Mother Nature wasn’t on our side. As of May 18 many of our crops were at critical growth stages that can only tolerate certain temperatures. We are now facing the grim reality that those crops we desperately needed to make things work are now damaged. While it is hard to truly assess the situation until some time has passed, currently we know crops that have been significantly affected by last week’s temperatures are our early season strawberries and tomatoes. We also have significant damage to our blueberry crop and a large percentage of our apple crop. We are hopeful that some plants with minor damage can recover and continue to grow, but know this season’s losses on the heels of the last three years will be difficult.
For those of you in our CSA program we will continue to plant additional crops to fill the gaps from the winter freeze to our fruit trees. Vegetables continue to be planted daily, a new rotation of strawberries is in the ground and things like watermelon and cantaloupe will be planted as usual. We will do everything in our control to have your farm shares be as diversified as possible, and are 100% invested in making this season the best we can.
We have worked hard over the last decade to not only diversify our crops but also how our product gets to our customers. Season after season we continue to match agricultural changes both environmental and economical without losing sight of who we are fundamentally as farmers producing food for our community and as caretakers of our land. Without the support of our CSA members and customers, that would not be possible. Now more than ever we appreciate your support and understanding as we gear up to open our farm store Thursday, June 1, and give the 2023 season our all.
Stephanie O’Keefe, Chris and Kerri Green
Westward Orchards
