How Do You Like Them Apples?

Ms. Cindy Bartlett was the distinguished speaker at the Club's September 24 meeting, and the members were treated to a very interesting presentation regarding the history and operations of her family's well-known and highly-regarded orchard located on Swamp Road in Richmond. Cindy is a Bartlett by marriage, and the orchard is co-owned by her husband, Ron, and her brother-in-law, Rick. The orchard has been in business since 1947, and was originally planted by Art Howard (whom the Bartlett family would later purchase the land from). The orchard is roughly 50 acres in total size. 35 of these acres are used to grow apples and 10 acres are used to grow corn, tomatoes, melons, and other summer crops. The Bartlett's grow 19 different varieties of apples, and picking begins in mid-August for some of the faster growing varieties. Cindy explained that the majority of apple-picking is conducted by a 4-person crew of Jamaicans, and these hard-working folks end up picking 150-200 boxes of apples a day and 15,000 bushels of apples in a season. The same crew of Jamaicans have worked for the Bartlett's for many years, and they are considered extended family. Although not a professionally a baker by professor training, Cindy explained that she does most of the baking. That said, Cindy also told Club members that son's girlfriend recently began helping with the baking and is developing quite a favorable among the pie-loving public. Club members learned that warmer weather means that the apples will drop sooner (this has been a warmer year), and there is no longer any market for dropped apples because of concerns over the potential for E. coli. Cindy informed the group that most apples are sold retail at the farm stand, and they have an oxygen-controlled room on the property to slow ripening so that fresh apples can be sold or used in other products (i.e., apple cider) during the winter months. The Barlett's practice integrated pest management (IPM) in order to reduce the amount of chemical spraying that is required, and this conveys both financial and environmental benefits. Cindy also informed the group that a Vermont-based beekeeper transports 40 hives down to the orchard in later-spring/early-summer to help accelerate pollination (which in turn leads to greater apple production).