PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Last year’s wet weather negatively impacted the SAD 1 Educational Farm and the amount of fruits and vegetables that were grown and sold.
At the April 9 SAD 1 board meeting, farm manager John Hoffses presented his annual report.
In 2013, 13,657 pounds of fresh apples were harvested at the school farm, compared to 66,808 pounds the previous year. In addition, 36,498 pounds of processed apples were used for cider compared to the 74,172 pounds that were used for processing in 2012.
Only $12,045 in fresh apples — which includes bushels, half peck bags, etc. — were sold, compared to $38,003 in 2012.
“We’re a little bit below average with 2013,” said Hoffses. “Thanks to Mother Nature we just did not hit it off. Between frost and rain, which beat the blossoms off the trees, it was a tough year for apples.”
With the apple numbers being low, so too was apple cider production.
In 2013, 3,040 gallons of cider were produced. The previous year saw 6,180 gallons produced.
In total, $15,463 in vegetables were sold last year, which is a decrease of $4,917 from 2012.
“Speaking with other farm stand operators, they had the same problem we did,” said Hoffses. “They were planting things two or three times trying to get germination which just wasn’t happening.”
It was a respectable year for strawberries as 7,151 quarts were sold earning $22,690. By comparison, 10,667 quarts were sold in 2012 generating $31,282 in income.
It was a good season, however, for both raspberries and beans.
Hoffses said 2013 saw 279 pounds being harvested bringing in $1,148. The previous year saw 231 pounds produced earning $976. The amount of both green and yellow beans were up last year. In 2013, 916 pounds of green beans — up 15 pounds from 2012 — and 534 pounds of yellow beans — up 44 pounds — were sold earning $2,802, an increase of $678.
Overall, revenue at the school farm in 2013 was $104,547, which is a decrease of $65,980, which is primarily attributed to the poor apple season.
“The weather was just not on our side,” said Hoffses. “It’s just one of those things. It’s hard to swallow, but I believe this year will be a better year.”
While production was dampened last year, the interest in the school farm continues to rise.
About 913 people toured the SAD 1 Educational Farm last year, up slightly from 2012, which saw 908 people visit the farm. In addition, 299 people toured the farm’s cider press, up from the previous year’s 240.
