Introducing: Joanne Charon of Autumn Harvest Orchard
Like many farmers today, Joanne did not grow up on a farm. Instead, her love for farming originated from working in the family garden, and positive experiences visiting farms in her youth, which left her with a feeling that one day she would own an orchard.
After graduating college, Joanne served for over 25 years in the military. Upon retirement, she cemented her future in agriculture and made her childhood visions a reality by purchasing the land that is now called Autumn Harvest Orchard in 2000. At the time, the land was an abandoned cow pasture, and it took many years of land and soil restoration to establish the diversified, productive orchard. Today, the orchard consists of over 400 apple, pear, chestnut, and nectarine trees, as well as over 300 blueberry bushes.
In addition to producing organic fruits and nuts, Autumn Harvest Orchard also harvests a wide variety of organic vegetables and honey from their apiary of 10-12 hives. The presence of beehives ensures their orchard and fields are well-pollinated, while also providing the honeybees with a wide variety of organic trees and plants to collect pollen and produce honey.
Enhancing the ecosystem of the land is one of Joanne’s priorities, and she says, “As farmers, we are committed to sustainable farming practices and to leave the land in a better state than what we found it in. Not only are we stewards of the land, we must work in harmony with nature and wildlife around us. This land continues to be cultivated and improved every year, and I am committed to finding natural practices to control pests and diseases, with the end goal of producing a great tasting and looking organic product.”
