July 18, 2008

Dear Friends, Customers and Organic Fruit Lovers,

We are saddened to inform you that we have experienced a significant crop failure this year. Organic fruit growing is at times tricky and crop loss is a gamble we all take. Our fields have been thriving and healthy since they were originally planted in 2001. However, during the first weeks of July it became apparent that our very large fruit crop was not ripening as expected. Since our varieties were originally selected for their ability to ripen through a colder, damper and more extended spring season, the slower ripening observed was unexpected. We have concluded this week that a significant portion of our crop has been influenced by a fruit blight, which thrives in extended damp spring weather and can be treated and prevented in the future. The degree of crop disease is such that I have chosen to prune and burn the entire crop as we are unwilling to “pick around” the damaged fruit and potentially provide you with anything less than #1 quality fruit. This procedure also leaves us the remainder of the summer and fall to sterilize and treat the plants and field areas. Our fields are now closed to visitors and we will allow only limited access for work purposes. This period of quarantine will last until harvest time next year. When re-opened all visitors will be asked to follow simple hand and shoe cleaning procedures designed to prevent future contamination.

We will miss seeing all of you this summer – at the farm and in our farmers market locations – but look forward to a joyful reunion in 2009.

Valerie and Tom Wall
Whitehorse Meadows Farm