When you stroll through the rows of fruit trees at Cherry Hill Farms in Caldwell, the scent of apples and peaches is a reminder that this family‑run orchard has been a staple of the community for years. Owner and farmer Bret Rowley says the farm’s survival now depends as much on the neighbors who come to pick fruit as on the soil beneath the trees.
Rising expenses hit the orchard
Rowley points to labor as the single biggest expense. “Our labor costs have gone up about 60 to 70% in the last 10 years,” he told the local paper. The orchard employs workers year‑round to prune, maintain and harvest the trees, and those wages have surged well beyond the farm’s original budget.
In addition to labor, diesel prices have climbed, squeezing the farm’s operating margin. Rowley says the combination of higher fuel and labor costs makes it harder to turn a profit on the fruit sold to grocery stores and juicers.
Weather adds to the challenge
Early this year an unexpected spring frost damaged blossoms before many fruits could develop. Later, a summer hailstorm battered the orchard, destroying roughly 40% of the crop, according to Rowley. “We had to pick a lot of our crop this year to go directly to apple juice, which is not quite as good of a return to us as, say, an apple in the grocery store,” he explained.
Community support makes the difference
Despite those setbacks, the farm has leaned heavily on the goodwill of Caldwell residents. The U‑Pick program and seasonal harvest festivals give families a chance to experience farm‑to‑table produce firsthand. “We’ve been a part of the community for years and connecting with customers is really the goal,” Rowley said.
Local mother Allison Johnson, who brought her two children to the orchard for a field trip, said the experience helps families understand the people behind the food. “People around here are everyday families. They’re generations just trying to survive the next thing, and when it hits them, it doesn’t just affect the business, it affects the family directly,” she said.
Looking ahead
Rowley hopes the continued patronage will keep Cherry Hill Farms operating long after the current harvest season ends. The farm’s final event of the year, Apple Days, is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, featuring pressed cider and applesauce made on site.
By inviting the public onto the orchard, Rowley believes the farm not only sells fruit but also builds lasting relationships that can weather future economic and climatic challenges. “The real goal is building relationships with the community through the orchards that help farms through difficult seasons and continue producing right in our backyard,” he said.
Original reporting: KIVI Idaho News 6 Boise metro (local) — read the source article.
