At this time, the 2010 fruit crop in total looks good! Without question we've got the best-looking peach, nectarine, blackberry, raspberry and fig crops ever.
With apples and pears we've been, and still are, battling the worst fireblight outbreak ever. Don't really understand why? This year was the
first time I've ever seen peaches and apples bloom at the same time. The apple crop will be light on some varieties.
Our honey crop will be small this season. A big old black bear got into the bees and destroyed about 12 hives before we got the remainder moved to
another farm. Have purchased 5 new hives from a local bee keeper to help rebuild our bee population. Have installed a three wire big animal solar
powered electric fence around the bee hives. 
We dodged hail storms twice in the passed 15 days. Suffered a little bit of damage on tree fruits.
The red and black raspberries have ripened fast in the past week. The crop is excellent for both. Will open our retail farm market next Tuesday, June
8 with WE PICK/YOU PICK red and black raspberries.
Last year we planted a new University of Arkansas early ripening thornless blackberry variety
(Natchez). We will also be picking a limited quantity of these. The berries are very large and of excellent quality.
In a week to 10 days should start WE PICK/YOU PICK blackberries in large quantities with another new thornless, University of Arkansas developed
blackberry variety that we planted 4 years ago (Quachita).
Should start picking both Royalty Purple and Dorman Red raspberries in about two weeks. Crop on both is excellent. Largest ever!
Will start picking peaches about July 1 with Red Havens. Our peach and nectarine crops are excellent this year Just needs to stop raining so much, so
more sweetness and flavor can develop.
Will officially open our retail farm market for the 2010 season next Tuesday, June 8. We will be open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday until July 5.
Retail Hours: 10:00 AM til 5:30 PM.
Will be making Rhubarb sauce, and Strawberry/Rhubarb sauce next week if we can still get strawberries.
Have a feeling that some did not pick up in last year's newsletter that we had changed servers. Our email address is perdueapple@charter.net. The farm
retail market number is 864-895-0608.
Guidelines for berry picking:
1. When picking please use extra care to not damage the new cane growth. Move out of the way and try not to break or step on the new canes. They will
bear next year's berry crop.
2. If bugs bother you, apply insect repellent and wear no perfume, shaving lotion, hair spray, etc.
3. Wear blue jeans and a long sleeve blouse or shirt. Long sleeves are especially important, as you need to use your arm to move and hold the berry
canes apart to find lots of good berries inside. Black raspberries canes are thorny. Wear shoes, not flip flops.
4. Wear a sun protective hat and use sunscreen.
Cautions when berry picking:
- Watch out for and avoid fire ant activity
- Watch for snakes. We have black snakes. They are harmless. I did kill one copperhead in the apple orchard this spring. We try to keep the berry row
middles clean and weed free.
- When you get home, check yourself and children for ticks.
We want you to have fun and a good time! Berry Picking is going to be great this season!
Look forward to seeing you real soon,
Dick Perdue
 RETAIL FARM MARKET HOURS - THRU JULY 5TH
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, 10:00am til 5:30pm
FARM ADDRESS FOR INTERNET DIRECTIONS AND MAP
2400 S.C. Hwy 11
Travelers Rest, S.C. 29690
See Map
Retail market phone: (864) 895-0608
View past newsletters, including the first newsletter of the season, and print out our fruit ripening charts online anytime at http://carolinafarmers.com/perdue/.
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