I hope all is well with you and your families during these challenging times. So, here is one last, short, pre-season update for you before deliveries begin next week. The weather has been great as of late, so I will not need to spend much time complaining about it. It was a very cold spring though and crops had been germinating and growing very slowly. We have been working hard for 2 months and we are well positioned to have a bountiful season. The early shares are always on the small side but this year they will be even smaller. I expect that will begin to change by the third or fourth week. The major pest of the mustard family- the flea beetle has been especially unstoppable and destructive this spring. This is likely due to the mild winter which allows more of the adults to survive. We have been battling this pest with several different organic sprays and covering many crops with an ag fabric to try to protect the crops. We were also hit hard by a root maggot in the cabbage and onion planting. We have been replanting as best we can. Peas are beginning to flower and the spinach, lettuces, beets, carrots and parsnips are all growing nicely. The tomatoes, peppers and eggplant have all been set out and as the weather warms, they will start to grow rapidly. The potatoes, which took forever to sprout, are now nearly a foot tall.
About 10 days ago the Zufall Health Center came out to the farm and tested my workers and I for the Covid-19 virus. Happily, all the tests were negative. I am hopeful that they will be able to return to test on a regular basis but as you know test materials are still in short supply. I suggested weekly testing, but they only smiled and said, “we’ll see”. They are a great organization and are committed to working with farmworkers along with other underserved populations.
Stay safe, Be well!
About 10 days ago the Zufall Health Center came out to the farm and tested my workers and I for the Covid-19 virus. Happily, all the tests were negative. I am hopeful that they will be able to return to test on a regular basis but as you know test materials are still in short supply. I suggested weekly testing, but they only smiled and said, “we’ll see”. They are a great organization and are committed to working with farmworkers along with other underserved populations.
Stay safe, Be well!
Farmer John
