A&A Orchard
Vendor
A&A Orchard is an IPM orchard, and we prioritize pollinators. Our 45-acre farm sits on a ridgetop in northeastern Carroll County, Arkansas, where our 9 acres of meadow and roughly 15 acres of woodland supply forage and cover for wildlife. Within this context is our orchard -- 10 acres of peaches and nectarines, 7 1/2 acres of apples, and 1/2 an acre of pears. We grow 100 varieties of apples, 16 varieties of peaches, and 3 varieties of pears that are picked by hand as many as five times each season to ensure ripeness and flavor. In an effort to preserve habitat, we do not offer u-pick. Our fruit can be found in-season at local farmers' markets.
Integrated Pest Management
Attempting to balance our orchard and native landscape, we follow Cornell University and Penn State University guidelines, using only materials they study and deem non-lethal to pollinators. Pheromone disruption, an organic preventative against invasive and destructive moths, is a vital tool for our orchard. We use no herbicides or commercial fertilizers, and we time mowing and spraying according to our bees' schedules.
A&A Orchard owner, John Aselage, has a masters degree in horticulture from Michigan State University. He spent a 28-year career with Gerber Products Company forwarding IPM protocols and working with numerous pest management professionals throughout the US. He managed Gerber’s organic agriculture program much of that time, and from 2008-2016 he managed organic agriculture purchases for a variety of crops for Amy's Kitchen, Inc. For 45 years, John's education and experience has benefitted A&A Orchard. IPM is the highest standard, and as an IPM specialist, John relies on non-stop scouting and thoughtful observation to determine the best site-specific practice.
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