This week’s blog is about one of our farmers, Mcleaf’s Orchard, who has a family motto: Food for Generations (Growing good food our own children will eat). What more can you ask for? The family farm has been around for five generations. Corey Mcleaf’s family started this farm (originally known as the Rice farm) in 1888 in Biglersville, PA although his family heritage of farming in Adams County, dates back much further. He works the farm with his wife Vicky and their 3 children (who are growing so fast that Farmer Dave and I are feeling old pretty quick!). Those who shop at the market will see his wife and partner, Vicky, each week.
This year its Vicky’s ingenuity that has caught both the customers and the Optimist volunteers’ eyes with what many believe is something that is quite original—she has captured the perfect ambiance and feel of a first rate beach road side fruit and vegetable stand. I smile every time I come into the market and even if I've exceeded my budget for the day, I’ll still find something extra to buy from her that day because I just love that feeling of returning home from the beach with some great produce—particularly without burning all of that gas! And especially with helpful staff offering free tastes of apples and peaches.
The family farm has 56 acres that are proudly Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) certified. They practice Integrated Pest Management (IPM) minimizing the use of chemicals by reducing destructive insects in the orchards, while at the same time maintaining a healthy quality product.
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Please visit McLeaf's webpage for more information—and why the lack of pictures this week? Because we’d like you to take some and submit them to us to let us know if you too like the McLeaf's stand. The best picture will win a prize from Farmer SJ. Please send digital pictures to manager@viennafarmersmarket.com. See you here next week or at the market--the Vienna Stars will be our guest this weekend! Go Girls.
