NH Fruit Growers in the News
WMUR – December 2023
MANCHESTER, N.H. — There is hope for a rebound in 2024 after a challenging year for fruit growers in New Hampshire, most notably for some apple orchards that lost their crops. The Christmas season is generally big business at Brookdale Fruit Farm in Hollis, and it is welcome after a tough 2023. Apples are the main feature of their 450 acres, and the crop was down 50% this year.
NHPR – October 2023
CONCORD, N.H. — Chuck and Diane Southers’ thermal alarm went off around 10:30 p.m. on a fateful night in mid-May. The alarm takes the temperature out in their 30-acre orchard and blares loudly if it dips too low. That Thursday night in Concord, New Hampshire, it was about 35 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature kept getting colder.
Morning Ag Clips – September 2023
HOLLIS, N.H. — Autumn has arrived bringing apple season to New Hampshire. However, this year’s apple season will look different than it has in past years due to weather challenges faced by growers this year. In February a bitter cold snap hit New Hampshire, and most of New England, with temperatures reaching as low as -20 degrees in some places.
NHPR – July 2023
PLAINFIELD, N.H. — Normally, by this time of year, the trees at Riverview Farm in Plainfield would be flush with growing fruit. But lately, Paul Franklin has to search for apples. “There should be somewhere around 600 apples on this tree,” he said, standing in a row of Gala trees. “You can see, there are far fewer than that.”
Morning Ag Clips – June 2023
DURHAM, N.H. — Shyloh Favreau’s research goals are to understand how Granite State farmers’ management of their crops affects bee populations, which in turn, help food producers succeed. The work supports NH Agricultural Experiment Station scientist Rich Smith’s broader research goal of improving the quantity and quality of ecosystem services derived from agriculture.
Morning Ag Clips – May 2023
WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The New England Fellowship of Agricultural Adventurers presented John C. Porter, of Boscawen, NH, Extension Dairy Specialist Emeritus, and Diane and Chuck Souther, Apple Hill Farm, Concord, NH, with the 2023 Agricultural Adventurers Award at a ceremony at the farm, May 9.
WMUR – June 2022
WMUR – June 17, 2022 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack visited Brookdale Fruit Farm in Hollis to announce a $200 million fund to help smaller specialty crop farmers meet government regulatory standards.
WSCY - Nov 2021
WSCY – Nov 2021
WSCY – October 8, 2021 – WSCY visited Diane Souther at Apple Hill Farm on Columbus Day weekend.
WNTK – Sept 2021
WNTK 99.7 FM – September 23, 2021 (7:35) – Peter St. James and Jeanne Lester talked with Chuck Souther of Apple Hill Farm and Kitt Plummer of Hazleton Orchards.
GMA – Sept 2021
Good Morning America Rise & Shine! – September 23, 2021 – New Hampshire welcomes tourists again after pandemic put businesses on pause. “GMA” heads to the Granite State to see how it is bouncing back more than a year after COVID-19 began.
MLT – Sept 2021
Monadnock Ledger-Transcript – September 20, 2021 – Fall harvest follows challenging wet summer for local farmers.
MIX 94.1 - Nov 2020
MIX 94.1 – Nov 2020
MIX 94.1 – November 2020 – Diane Souther from Apple Hill Farm shares all the work that’s happening in preparation for the holiday rush.