A Peach of a Day
Marty Whitsitt, Indiana/Illinois Growers District Manager, and I were finishing up our week of farm visits and heading to Rockport, Indiana, home of Lakeview Orchard and peach extraordinaire, Jim Seiler. Marty's son, Tyler, a Growers rep, joined us for the final leg of our trip. The visit to Lakeview Orchard was my first, and I had been looking forward to it for a couple of years. Jim Seiler is a unique Growers customer. You may have read about his operations in past Solution articles ("There should not be a peach on the place," by Marty Whitsitt, Solution Winter 2021).
Lakeview Orchard is located just north of the Ohio River in southern Indiana about an hour east of Evansville, IN. It's a wonderful place with 60 acres of orchards and a large store to sell peaches, flowers, baked goods, etc. It's a perfect location for a peach operation (except for an occasional frost) and, as we found out, much more. Jim greeted us like we were family. He joked with and teased Marty and Tyler, and welcomed me like I had been there a hundred times. We immediately went across the street to tour his orchard. The peach trees were full of ripe and nearly ripe beautifully colored peaches. Jim reached up and pulled a peach off the branch and handed it to me. Words can't describe the flavor! It was, without a doubt, the best peach I have ever had. As we continued our tour, and consumed three more peaches, Jim went from tree to tree pulling off small peaches and tossing them to the ground. He said you need to pull these because the average peach tree can produce 4 to 5 thousand peaches, but the tree can't physically support that amount of fruit. He yields about 300 to 400 peaches from each tree. His first peaches of the year are Red Haven, and they were never ripe and ready to pick until the start of July. It was always a challenge because July Fourth is a huge day for sales. Today, after being on the Growers Program, the peaches are ready by the last week in June. That wasn't always the case.
Seven years ago, Jim decided to take a chance and make a change to his fertility program because he was frustrated about the cost of the products he needed and with no frost protection. Frost is probably the biggest enemy of any peach grower. It can wipe out all or most of the crop. Experiencing this several times over the last 60 years, Jim decided to try Growers Mineral Solutions because of the clean raw materials used to manufacture the product and the non-toxic aspect, along with frost protection. He has always believed that chemicals and heavy metals from fertilizers affect the taste and production. Once on the Growers Program, the orchard made a remarkable transition. Problems from the past (frost, pest issues, and diseases, etc.) were now minimal and under control with little or no other chemicals applied. Result: he doubled his production. How Mother Nature intended!
After our tour of the orchard, we returned to the store and met Jim's daughter, Jenna Martin. Jenna is a chip off the old block. She is responsible for the flowers grown in the orchard. In just a few years, she has developed a great business selling her flowers to local florists and in the orchard store at a premium. Using primarily Growers Mineral Solution for the flower's fertility as a foliar spray and seed starter, she already has plans to increase the flower field and install a greenhouse next year.
As we walked back to the store, a tall young man pulled up and had a bottle of wine and a trophy in his hands. Mack Webb was there to show Jim and us his award-winning wine, Hymn & Herd Peach Wine, and his award for first place at the Texas International Wine Competition "Best of Class Fruit Wine" category. Mack has been producing wine since he was 18 at the family winery, Hymn & Herd Family Winery, established in 1835. Now 30, Mack has, in his words, finally stopped making vinegar and now makes award-winning wine, and he thanks Jim for the special peaches that made the difference. He uses Ibs. of peaches per gallon of production, and can't wait to produce this year's wine. Oh, by the way, I put my order in already for a case!
The day was winding down, so we loaded a couple of 10 lb. boxes of peaches for the ride home and to share with co-workers and family. What a treat everyone was in for! We thanked Jim for a great day and the unbelievable peach experience. He then mentioned that the local distillery is going to start making Peach Moonshine later this year. Another peach treat awaits us!
I want to personally thank Jim for the wonderful experience at the orchard and his continued support and enthusiasm for Growers Mineral Solutions. Jim is a true Growers farmer and family member!
This is an excerpt from the Early Fall Growers Solution (2024) written by Chris Kohls, National Sales Manager.
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Interested in peach growing and frost protection? Look no further! Check out our latest podcast episode, where Jim Halbeisen and Marty Whitsitt dive into frost protection strategies for fruit trees—specifically peaches—using Growers Mineral Solutions.
