SAVE OURORCHARDS NOW
In the Fall of 2023 Manzana Inc., our apple processor in Graton, stopped processing local apples for 3 weeks. About 1,000 tons of local apples were not processed, many were not picked and many were already in bins and loaded on trucks - where they simply rotted. Early in 2024 Manzana announced they were moving to Washington and would not process apples locally after 2024.
Manzana processed about 8,500 tons of local apples every year. Without a local processor there is no financially viable option for our farmers and the many people supporting them.
Imagine Sonoma county without apple orchards and you have the answer. Apples are an historic and cultural heart of our community. Apple farmers and the many other people supporting them live on slim profit margins —already, we see more orchards torn down and converted to vineyards.
Years ago Slow Food International declared the Gravenstein apple an endangered heritage food - one of only 6 such species in the United States. Saving them and restoring their market requires us to work to save as many orchards and varieties as possible. Slow Food champions this kind of diversified agriculture.
We are working with Supervisors Rabbit and Hopkins and concerned local business and government stakeholders to find a solution. In addition to Slow Food Russian River the group includes the Sonoma County Agriculture Commissioner, the Economic Development Bureau, UC Extension Services, Farm Trails, Community Affiliation with Family Farmers, Bay Jobs with Justice, and the Teamsters Local Union 665. For information about the progress of this group go to Sonoma Apple Orchards. Your comments and ideas are welcome on the Forum, please join us in working to save our orchards!
The UCCE No. Bay Specialty Crops YouTube Channel has many webinars on orchard maintenance including one about Codling Moths (those nasty worms that invade some local apples). We are also working with the Master Gardeners to produce a series of webinars geared toward backyard orchards, large and small, next year starting with a video on how to prune apple trees. Watch for the announcement in our newsletter!
