Hope you are all ready for a great fruit season. The weather has been nearly perfect for a very good bloom and fruit set on most all fruit types and varieties.
With the good weather and many, many hours on changes in cultural practices (planting bed design, new cane pruning, plant nutrients, disease, insect, and weed control), just maybe we have finally figured out how to grow raspberries this far south. The canes on all five of our spring bearing varieties are healthy and the berry crop load on each is what you dream about! The same is true for most of our blackberry varieties.
How fast things change! Wrote the above about 10 days ago. Had planned to open retail for season on June 12. But now had to delay because of berry crop damage from the week of 96+ F.  heat and no rain. WILL OPEN TUESDAY, JUNE 17 with red, black and purple raspberries and blackberries.
RETAIL DAYS AND HOURS
June 17 thru July 2 -
Retail market will be open from 10:00 am
til 6:00 pm - Tuesday, Thursday and
Saturday.
After July 4 -
Retail market will be open from 10:00 am
til 6:00 pm - Wednesday thru Saturday
12:30 pm till 6:00 pm Sunday. CLOSED MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS
You need to come by and look at the progress we've made. Better yet, have fun picking your own berries.
The crop load, fruit size, and quality on most every apple, peach, nectarine, plum, pear and Asian pear variety is good. Believe for the first time, we have a pretty much blemish-free crop on our apricot trees. Some plums and the apricots should be ripe late June. Peaches start with Red Havens the first week in July.
Last season, to reduce expenses, operated using only
cell phones. That was a mistake! For 2008, have gone back to AT&T.
HAVE NEW FARM MARKET NUMBER: (864) 895-0608
Have included with this newsletter updated fruit type/variety
ripening tables. Please make copies for your friends and put one on your refrigerator door. If you have trouble viewing them here, you can download them online at http://carolinafarmers.com/perdue/.
While you had considerable interest in obtaining fruit trees, vines and bushes, we have decided to not grow and sell plants this year. If you should want to plant and grow certain fruits, I'll help you with selecting varieties and nursery to buy from. We plan to concentrate all our efforts on growing and processing the fruits for your enjoyment. Made fresh rhubarb sauce, strawberry/rhubarb sauce and strawberry preserves last week.
 Our bees have been very busy making lots of honey this spring with the heavy bloom on all trees, vines, and wild flowers. Will have good supply of "mountain" honey available. As you know, local honey is supposed to be good for your health and it's natural!
Took down the "shade cloth" that was over where we potted fruit trees, vines and bushes for selling, on the right side of the retail building. Put a roof over this area, which will be used this season for storage of supplies and equipment, and apple sorting and boxing. This will free up much- needed processing and retail space.
Will make the annual trip to South Georgia early August to get the season supply of freshly dug "green" Virginia white jumbo peanuts. Should have boiled "green" peanuts available by
August 15.
The farm summer staff is all back this season!
Retail sales:
Carol Oviatt (Wed., Thurs. and Fri.),
Jill Zuidma (Saturday and other days as needed), and
John Bennett (Sundays)
Processing: Lisa Farrington and
Theresa Brown
Orchard work and fruit picking: Frankie Gonzalez,
Jeremey Brown, and
Kevin Polen (new)
Except for replacement berry and grape plants, the only new fruit planted  this spring were oriental persimmon trees. One variety of gooseberries planted two years ago is loaded with berries. Be sure to let us know if you’re a "gooseberry lover", so we can reserve some for you!
We are looking forward to a wonderful fruit season and are anxious to see you soon!!
Dick and Betty Perdue, and all the staff at
Perdue's Mountain Fruit Farm
RETAIL FARM MARKET HOURS
June 17 thru July 2
10:00 am
til 6:00 pm - Tuesday, Thursday and
Saturday.
After July 4
10:00 am
til 6:00 pm - Wednesday thru Saturday
12:30 pm till 6:00 pm Sunday.
CLOSED MONDAYS AND TUESDAYS
FARM ADDRESS FOR INTERNET DIRECTIONS AND MAP
2400 S.C. Hwy 11
Travelers Rest, S.C. 29690
See Map on Google |
