Fat and happy? NE harvest report

The future is very bright for the apple harvest this year, according to the growers interviewed by Liza Zwrin and published in the Boston Globe on September 8.

If nothing goes wrong.

Zwrin interviews, among others, Andre Tougas, whose father Mo was named Apple Grower of the Year by American Fruit Grower and Western Fruit Grower magazines 10 years ago.

She quotes Alan Nicewicz, whom I see Wednesdays at Arlington's farmers market. Say hi to his two brothers at the markets in Davis Square and Belmont.

These are family business with names like Connors Farm, and Tougas Family Farm, and Nicewicz Family Farm.

The outlook

The Globe's annual story about the apple harvest is, this year, (a) unusually timely (the story often does not appear until later) and (b) especially expressive of the farmers' point of view.

The wet rainy summer did the apples no harm, and may have protected them from the heat, according to the growers.

But to be a farmer is to worry about what might happen next: hail, bugs, disease. 

Heck, birds. Tornadoes.

“When people ask me, ‘How’s the harvest going to be this year?,’ I say check with me in November,” Nicewicz says in the story.

Zwrin helpfully refers us to the New England Apple Association for more, and even tells us how to pronounce "Macoun."

I am no farmer, but note that 2021 should be an "on" year for such biennial varieties as Baldwin, another reason for cautious optimism.

Some great photos in the story too, from Globe photographer John Tlumacki.

Links

• "Something to look forward to? Apple-picking season could be glorious this year" Globe
• Mo Tougas, Apple Grower of the Year
• NE Apple Association website (also, my 2010 review)