A good picture can remind someone who is already familiar with your farm to buy something. A great photo will sell it to someone who knows nothing about you. Our customer base for cut flowers very much lives on Instagram and Pinterest so engaging new buyers requires a proficiency in the language of ...

Bunzi was the goddess of rain in Kongo mythology; Horus, the god of weather in Egypt; Freyr, the Norse god of rain and sunshine; and Tohil, the Maya god of sun and rain. Ancient societies prayed to them for good things. Today, we have satellites and expert science to help us predict what the weather...

Agriculture has fed humanity throughout recorded history, but it must continue to evolve alongside technological advances if it is to meet current worldwide food needs. That was the overarching theme of “Utilizing Ground Based Rover Technology Across Fields to Aid in its Management,” a discussion pa...

It was great to attend the 2022 Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention in February. It gave me a chance to catch up with old friends, Extension/research colleagues and growers. I especially wanted to gather information on drip irrigation for this column. I know that growers understand why timel...

Visibility constitutes a key element of any marketing strategy and is often centered around person-to-person brand education. Direct marketers are familiar with brand ambassadors who work with trade associations to bring visibility to an industry. While brand ambassadors may be geared to regional or...

A farmer may grow the biggest, reddest berries around on their U-pick farm, but without marketing, it won’t matter. Marketing is essential to a successful U-pick operation. This begins with understanding the target market, according to Eve Kaplan-Walbrecht, owner of Garden of Eve Organic Farm & Mark...

Farms with a rich history often become community staples, and that’s the case with Miller Plant Farm in York County, PA. What began as a 35-acre farm with greenhouses added over the years is now thriving under the leadership of the fourth and fifth generations. Dave Miller, fourth generation, talked...

Growing up with a garden, helping his father, Kevin, pick up rocks and trying to drive the tractor as a boy never left this Charlestown, RI, native. As soon as he graduated from high school, Matthew Thibodeau wanted to start his own hobby farm and did so with a single acre. He has now expanded to si...

A recent report from Capgemini, a multinational IT services and consulting company, revealed that 79% of consumers are altering their overall purchasing habits toward sustainable products, most likely due to a dramatic shift in social and environmental reasonability. For growers and garden centers, ...

People who have purchased campers or RVs are itching to use them. They invested good money in their concept of recreation – and more and more people are looking to invest in experiences, not just hooking up at any old campground. That’s where Harvest Hosts comes into play. At its core, it is an RV a...

In the second of a three-part webinar series, Rose Wilson discussed how to assess the feasibility of a hemp-based business plan. The series’ sponsors are the UVM Northwest Crops and Soils Program, Northeast Extension Risk Management Education and SARE. Wilson, the former business manager for Harpoon...

For such a small pest, mites can be mighty frustrating. And there is no one best way to handle them. That’s why Rick Fletcher, technical services manager for turf and ornamentals of NuFarm, preached the power of mite management rotations at Cultivate’21. Mites feed on leaves, berries and various tis...

An invasive species, browntail moth, poses human health risks as well as concerns for forest and orchard health. This species is currently experiencing a population boom in Maine, and unfortunately, cold winter temperatures do not kill these pests. Tom Schmeelk, forest entomologist, Maine Department...

Despite the challenges of the last two years, flower farmers and designers in our region have come together as we can to learn and connect. Last autumn, a group of growers and designers met in person in a greenhouse at Hessian Hill Farm to debrief our season. As the conversation continued it became ...

The first three words you see when you visit Pond Hill Farm’s website are Eat, Drink and Play. Those are the focuses of this popular farm destination in Harbor Springs, MI, and their desire to draw in visitors isn’t limited to just the growing or harvest seasons. Jimmy Spencer of Pond Hill Farm spok...