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Frequently Asked Questions *Do you have any signature fruits? * What chemicals do you spray on the fruit? Here at Weaver's Orchard we are committed to following an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program. IPM in a nutshell is the use of several pest control methods in a way which compliments biological and natural controls of pests. We always keep in mind our economical, public health, and environmental goals. IPM practices include scouting, pest trapping, pest resistant plant varieties, sanitation, cultural control methods (i.e. Keeping the orchard mowed to cut down on additional habitat for pests), physical and mechanical controls, biological controls, precise timing and application of any needed pesticides. With IPM a decision to use pesticides is made when the population of that pest reaches numbers that would be detrimental to the quality of that crop and no other alternative management practices are available that would provide effective control. When pesticides are needed we follow the recommendations made by Penn State and adhere to all label requirements and restrictions. The goals of IPM are to achieve the effective management of pests in the safest manners. *CA Storage: What Is It and How Does It Work? Many of our apples are picked at the peak of perfection, and immediately sent to a controlled atmosphere (CA) storage facility. There they are kept in airtight storage rooms, where the temperature is kept at or slightly below freezing, and natural gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide are closely monitored to specific levels. This maximizes the holding capabilities of our apples, and also holds back the levels of ethylene gas (a natural gas which apples produce). Ethylene gas continues the ripening process to where apples lose flavor and crispness. The use of CA storage does not improve the quality of our apples; it just preserves that harvest time flavor and crispness so you can enjoy that fall snap and flavor throughout the spring and summer. |