BOISE, Idaho — The colder weather is bringing an end to the growing season. But, for some local producers, it was a bountiful year. A couple of local orchards shared what their seasons were like.
For Gem Orchards in Emmett, owner and operator, Lance Phillips, said it was a great year. They grow cherries, nectarines, peaches, berries, apricots and apples. This year, they even added some new varieties, all of which did well.
"We thought we were going to have another 2022," Phillips said. "Or, it was going to be a cold year we were going to be way behind, things started out wet and cool. And that was good as far as frost because as soon as the tree finally bloomed, the weather went from a possibility of frost, to no frost, just like that. So, everything that flowered bloomed and set fruit, which was great for cherries, we almost had too many cherries."
Phillips said after the cherries, the apricots, peaches and nectarines came in through the summer. He added the summer weather was more favorable than in recent years. And Gem Orchards didn't see any major weather events like a wind storm or hail. But, Phillips said there was one hurdle he had to deal with this year.
"The biggest thing that set us back was we had too many peaches," he said. "And when I say that, we're talking a limb that's two feet long had 90 peaches on it. And we have to literally pull off all but three of them. So we ended up thinning, and then going back and thinning again. And then we actually had to thin three times. But, we had so many peaches, we were worried that we were going to be breaking limbs."
Philips continued, "So really, top notch fruiting season, at least out here in the Emmett area."
Gem Orchards isn't the only local grower that had a great season this year. Cathy Cabalo from Cabalo's Orchard and Garden shared a similar outcome for her family-run orchard in Kuna.
"I noticed my pickling cucumbers almost doubled in production, our pumpkins exploded, and they look great," she said. "The apple crop was really, really good, as far as volume. Our tomatoes, I can't see straight, all the tomatoes we got this year. So a lot of things really, really did well."
She said she was grateful for the weather. People would ask her why things were late but she said "It's not late, it's actually on time."
"And people are getting so accustomed to the changes, they expect things at different times than when they're normally supposed to be," Cabalo said.
Frost has not hit the Treasure Valley, and the local growers are taking advantage of the opportunity.
"Usually about the 3rd of October, we're finished," Cabalo said, "And all we have to do is deal with pumpkins. And this year, I'm still picking peppers. I'm still picking tomatoes."
She continued, "I would say the 29 days of over 100 degrees last year was absolute murder. Because not only was it stressing the plants, it was stressing us, it was stressing the insect community, stressed all kinds of things."
Cabalo also mentioned they tried a new organic farming technique this year, so she thinks that may have helped with their yield also.
Gem Orchards' farm stand is closed for the season. But, Phillips said he still has cider if you want to coordinate with him to pick some up.
This will be Cabalo Orchard's last weekend of the season. So, you can still buy some of their organic produce like peppers, u pick apples and pumpkins, winter squash, decorative corn stalks and gourds, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and cider.
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