All About Our Produce

Why buy QVO, local, IPM

At QVO we grow the best fruit and veggies you have tasted! We allow our produce to fully ripen on the vine or tree then harvest the day before or often the day of market.

This is why we say:

Always Fresh, Always Local!

Why Buy Local

There are several reasons to buy local. I think these are a few of the most important. Locally grown food tastes better and contains many more nutrients. It is crisp, sweet and loaded with flavor. Studies have shown that the average distance food travels from farm to plate is 1,500 – 2,500 miles! This trip takes a week or more, just to reach the supermarket. Buying local supports your local farmer. Buying direct at market also cuts out the middleman and gives us full retail price for our produce. This helps us to be able to afford to support our farm and family. It also ultimately helps to preserve agricultural landscape that we all enjoy seeing.

Visit some of these great sites offering lots of info and support of buying and supporting local producers.

Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) http://www.pasafarming.org/

Buy Fresh Buy Local http://www.buylocalpa.org/

Local Harvest http://www.localharvest.org/

Slow Food USA http://www.slowfoodusa.org/

FoodRoutes – Where does your food come from? http://www.foodroutes.org/

And last but not least our friend Eric at Red Wattle http://www.redwattle.com/

Integrated Pest Management

We receive many questions about how our produce is grown. There is a lot of confusion with so many methods in practice today.

At QVO we use the IPM (Integrated Pest Management) System for our tree fruit production. This includes taking several measures prior to spraying to reduce harmful pests commonly found in the orchard. We do this by keeping our orchards mowed and clean. With Pennsylvania weather being so seasonable and varied year to year it is very difficult to grow strictly organic and still have fruit to bring to market to support our family and farm. Recently, we have been using a mating disruption program for the harmful tree fruit moths with much success. This involves placing a card with pheromones in each tree in the orchard. These cause disruption with moth mating and prevent them from laying eggs in the fruit. By using these and releasing beneficial insects in the orchard, we have seen a reduction in our pest population. Ultimately this allows us to spray less, using softer (often organic) chemicals in lower doses and only when it is absolutely necessary. This is where we raise our family. We want our food to be as safe as possible. Winn and I are continually searching for improved, safer ways to raise our produce for you and us.