Tom Clark

Meribeth and Derek Ritchie of Sangha Farm in Ashfield and Thomas Clark of Clarkdale Fruit Farm in Deerfield provide the produce each week.

"These trees are about one-third of the old tree size, a couple of feet across instead of 8 to 10 feet at the bottom, so you can reach in and pick all the apples," said Tom Clark of Clarkdale Fruit Farm in Deerfield, one of about a dozen growers who expressed interest in participating.

Tom Clark of Clarkdale Fruit Farm in West Deerfield walked around the Town Common holding a bucket filled with apples from his farm, offering them to everyone as a before-meal snack, while volunteer Cindy Pomeroy of Greenfield collected donations.

Apple trees have thrived on the region's run of rainy, humid weather, says Thomas Clark, owner of Clarkdale Fruit Farm in Deerfield, who expects a much larger crop than last year.

It's one of the only viable research farms in New England , said Thomas Clark , owner of Clarkdale Fruit Farm in Deerfield.

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They keep working on all kinds of monitoring traps , said Clark , the Deerfield farmer.

Other ideas for controlling and preventing disease are less research-intensive.For example , posts topped with a small ledge tower over many blocks of trees , providing a place for hawks to perch and hunt for mice , which can damage the roots of fruit trees.

The farm also serves as a source of seminars and workshops and a site for agri-tourism.Several local school groups tour the farm in the fall.
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It doesn't make any sense to come up with a new variety of apple if it doesn't sell , Clark , the Deerfield orchard owner , said.

Apple trees have thrived on the region's run of rainy, humid weather, says Thomas Clark, owner of Clarkdale Fruit Farm in Deerfield, who expects a much larger crop than last year."name=DESCRIPTION> >
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Thomas Clark of Clarkdale Orchards in Deerfield said the peach crop may be smaller than usual this year, as a result of the long spell of wet humid weather.
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Apple trees have thrived on the region's run of rainy, humid weather, says Thomas Clark, owner of Clarkdale Fruit Farm in Deerfield, who expects a much larger crop than last year.

The peaches, however, are another story.

"Peach skins are cracking with too much water, and disease gets in," said.Clark says the skin of peaches is sensitive, easily hurt by excessive moisture.

— Tom Clark, Orchardist, Clarkdale Fruit Farms, Deerfield, MA

- Tom Clark, Orchardist, Clarkdale Fruit Farms, Deerfield, MA

"I've heard that everything east of the Connecticut River is doing OK, and everything west is having trouble," said Tom Clark of Clarkdale Fruit Farm in Deerfield.

"This is the worst apple crop damage that I can remember," said Clark, who has been in the business most of his 52 years."We're battling ugly, misshapen fruit and bare trees."

Still, Clark said he'll have plenty of apples for his roadside stand.He normally produces 10,000 bushels of apples and will have fewer this year, but could not say how many.

"It's hard to tell until you pick them," he said.

Varieties a factor

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And Clark said trees that did not produce fruit this year will be better for it next year.

"Long-term, it's probably a benefit for the tree because it gets a rest," he said.

In Chesterfield, the Chicks will carry on, buying wholesale apples to sell at their stand.