A Closer Look at Produce Market- Fifer Orchards

A Closer Look at Produce Market- Fifer
Orchards
Daisha
1 Department
1,4
Capers
, Ashley Crisler
2,
Sathya
1
Elavarthi ,
of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Delaware State University, Dover DE, 19901
3
Kalpalatha
2
Fifer Orchards, Camden-Wyoming, De 19934,
Center for Integrated Biological and Environmental Research (CIBER), 4 USDA Farm Experience Program (FEP)
This summer I was able to gain a hands on experience with the Fifer
Orchards, one of the biggest farms in Camden. Fifer Orchards
produces a variety of fruits and vegetables such as apples, corn,
strawberries, blueberries, and peaches. Fifer Orchards also offers a
market on their farmland, customers can shop for fresh produce and
other locally produced products such as milk, honey, eggs, jams, and
soaps. Another way that they are serving community is through CSA
(Community Supported Agriculture) where customers can purchase a
box of assorted locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. These boxes
are expected to be picked up weekly for 18 or 9 weeks throughout the
summer. The three locations where customers can pick up their boxes
are at Fifer Orchards, Dover, Milford, or Newark. Overall Fifer
orchards is one of many produce farms that offers quality crops for
the residents in and around Delaware. During my internship through
the USDA supported Farm Experiences Program (FEP), I was able to
experience all levels of store maintenance and management activities.
This would involve me from grading produce to customer assistance
and also had the opportunity to participate in different community
events such as blueberry festivals and strawberry pickings. Overall
FEP internship at Fifer Orchards helped me acquire knowledge
related to produce distribution.
Overall I've learned
CSA
Abstract
CSA stands for Community supported agriculture. Customers can
arrange to pick up a box weekly or biweekly on Thursday throughout
the summer. This is a way for customers to get produce that is in
season. Each week Fifer Orchards employees decide on the items that
will go into the box. With over 400 boxes being distributed throughout
Delaware, a lot of time and patience is put into CSA boxes. CSA is
also a great way to support local farmers and business since all of the
produce in the boxes are locally grown
Example CSA box Facts about Delaware farmers In Store
Fifer Orchards store sign Grade produce based on quality
Produce available in Delaware and the seasons they are
grown
Why it is important to support local farmers
CSA delivery truck
Former Fifer Orchards truck 1,3
Melmaiee
At Fifer Orchards along with the farmland, there is also a market. This is
where customers can purchase a wide range of fresh and locally grow
produce. Fifer Orchards is really big on presentation and quality. A lot of
my job consisted of checking for the quality of produce. So what I would
do is grade the produce before making it presentable for customers to
buy. If a product is at good quality then this will go out on first and be
sold at regular price. If a product is bruised or is really ripened then this
product goes into seconds where it is sold at a discount. If the product is
busted open or moldy then this product will go into the trash. After I am
doing grading the produce I would transfer it from the crate or box and
put it on the shelves, pints, or quarts depending on the item.
Items available at Fifer Orchards and add on available for CSA boxes A good yielding blueberry plant How peaches come to the store Peaches display at store Fifer Orchards store front
Acknowledge
You pick blueberry patch
Grade A tomato, seconds tomato, second tomato, bad tomato This study was supported in part by USDA- Farm Experience
Program, College of Agriculture and Related Sciences
(CARS), and the Center for Integrated Biological and
Environmental Research (CIBER).