Around this time of year, it’s not uncommon for farmers to soak in eleven-hour days, work through a few setbacks along the way and be surrounded by thousands of apples that will somehow be set for someone’s household.
Dwayne Barteaux, owner of Barteaux Farms Limited, has been a fruit grower for almost 40 years.
The farm has been in the family for decades, with Dwayne’s son now representing the eighth or ninth generation of farmers in the family. Despite some lack in record keeping, they’re not overly sure on the exact number but it is a lot!
Operating in Moschelle, Annapolis County, the farm grows a variety of tree fruits, primarily apples, along with plums, pears and peaches. They also grow strawberries and blueberries, raise a small herd of beef cattle, and maintain several large woodlots.
Last year was a devastating year for fruit growers in the apple sector, severe drought resulted in significant yield losses.
“Things are rebounding really well, we have a really great crop this year. However the trees that were affected the most significantly last year, have a really light to no crop this year,” shared Barteaux.
The farm is focusing on nutrient management in the blocks that are most impacted. They’re seeing good growth with the anticipation that they will rebound next year or the following year.
For some trees, it can take a couple of years for them to fully recover after the stress of a severe drought.
“What many don’t realize in the year the fruit is produced the trees are also producing the buds that turn into blossoms and the fruit next year. During a drought if the plants are under too much stress, they don’t form good healthy buds resulting in less fruit or maybe even no fruit,” Dwayne shared.
If the roots are damaged, which they were with last year’s drought, sometimes it can also take an extra year to bring the trees back to their regular state.
Like many farms that suffered losses, they’ve also invested in irrigation, preparing for what might be ahead in the future.
Thankfully, this year was a good year, seeing lots of precipitation for fruits to get enough nutrients to grow healthy while helping with the recovery of the trees heavily impacted last year.
The other day I was able to catch some of the farm hands, including Dwayne, in action as they were harvesting Honeycrisp apples.
These particular apples haven’t fully reached their colours but they will still be used as processors for the pie plant!
Apples that are really showing their colours will ultimately be picked, loaded and transported to Scotian Gold, where they may end up in a fruit basket in your home!
Adrian J.
