Cold Winter, Cool Spring Bring Mixed Results For Lehigh Valley, N.J. Farmers

English: Apples on an apple-tree. Ukraine. Русский: Яблоня со спелыми плодами. Украина. Latina: Malus domestica (Borkh., 1803) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This winter’s cold temperatures that stuck around until late spring have curbed apple production at one local orchard, although local vineyards say the grapes are some of the best they’ve ever seen.

Tianna DuPont, an educator for sustainable agriculture at the Penn State Cooperative Extension, said the growing season started out about three weeks late, although recent warm weather is helping plants catch up.

Matty Matarazzo, the owner of Four Sisters Winery in White Township, expects a smaller than usual yield of apples this year. He said they’ll grow enough for the winery’s apple wine but not an abundant amount.

Bob Best, of Bests Fruit Farm in Independence Township, said the cool spring threatened his crops initially, but once the weather warmed up the produce started to grow.

Read more: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/breaking-news/index.ssf/2014/07/despite_cool_start_growing_sea.html

Great Year For Gourds: Weather Conditions Favorable For Farmers

Squashes and pumpkins (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

JOHNSTOWN, PA — The search for The Great Pumpkin by cartoon icon Charlie Brown may have come to a rapid conclusion had he had access to this year’s pumpkin field at the Tim Gresh farm near Colver.

The norm this year at Gresh’s farm are pumpkins weighing 50 pounds or more, pumpkins that are being turned into some of the biggest, scariest Jack-o-Lanterns gracing porches and lawns.

With pumpkins 90 percent water, moisture in the 2013 growing season of Cambria and Somerset counties has been abundant enough to meet that high standard, but not too much to foster growth problems, according to growers.

The result is plenty of well-shaped, good-colored, heavy pumpkins, be they for pies or for fun.

Read more: http://tribune-democrat.com/latestnews/x703131127/Great-year-for-gourds-Weather-conditions-favorable-for-farmers

Customer Service For Nonprofits – July 15, 2011

Family Services Project ECO Workshop: Customer Service for Nonprofits

Family Services Project ECO is pleased to offer TCN members a FREE capacity building workshop, Customer Service for Nonprofits, on July 15, 2011 in collaboration with Penn State Cooperative Extension. In a nonprofit organization the recipients of good customer service include program participants, volunteers, donors, and the general public. Participants who attend this workshop will learn why customer service is important to their organization and how to deal more effectively with multiple customer groups, including those from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and economic circumstances. Participants will strengthen verbal and non-verbal communication skills through role play and situation analysis and learn how customer service impacts marketing an organization.

For more information about this free workshop and other capacity-building services for eligible nonprofit organizations in Montgomery County, please contact Alicia Verleysen, Project ECO Community Liaison, at 610-630-2111, Ext. 229 or averleysen@fsmontco.org.