Trickle irrigation and some fertigation has been put in and dramatically improved fruit size and quality. The arrival of pickers of various nationalities to help Jamaican pickers has challenged many growers especially if learning another foreign language was necessary. Increased regulations related to pesticides like the Worker Protection Standard and New York's Pesticide Applicator Licensing has made growing much more complex. Some things haven't changed in three decades, Smith said. Apples are still picked by hand.
Weather forecasting remains a mystery.
Someone still has to drive a tractor. Apple scab and apple maggot are alive and well. All successful farm businesses are operated by a dedicated hard working farmer who depends on strong family support and relies on a viable agribusiness network and agricultural community. Smiths plan's for the future are to keep life simple. He and his wife, Sandra, will continue to live in New Paltz and spend more time with their growing family.