Dry weather hurts Smolak’s apple harvest but farm is still a special place
“We would be doing much better if the weather cooperated with us by bringing some rain but the world had a different plan.”
– Gail Smolak
The apples at one Merrimack Valley farm have all but disappeared this year. Talking with Bill and Gail Smolak, of Smolak Farms in North Andover, this fall feels very different for them.
The yield from the 123-acre farm, which is traditionally chock full of apples, is almost bare. The increasingly high temperatures this summer and minimal amounts of rain caused a near drought in the region.
Bill Smolak said, “123 acres of land with many fruit crops takes a huge amount of water. We have a water source on the property but it was insufficient this summer.”
The Smolaks made a difficult decision not to purchase water from the town this summer and limit the watering of the trees.
This resulted in a smaller yield of apples for the fall harvest.
Weather data from the National Weather Service showed that Essex County, where NECC and Smolak Farms are located, received only 1.88 inches of rain in July, which was -1.68 than the average.
Gail Smolak said “We would be doing much better if the weather cooperated with us by bringing some rain but the world had a different plan.”
Smolak Farms has been giving the region this special place and experience for years. This year is no different, but having so few apples are making it harder for people to want to come and spend time and money at the farm,
Bob Parker, said, “Yes it’s hard to look at all the people being here and not being able to pick apples and it makes me sad that they are not getting what they came for.”
Parker has been a volunteer for 10 years. He is working at Smolaks for no money. He works to give back to something he enjoys.
He has many fond memories of seeing families enjoy time at the farm and hopes it will happen for generations to come.
Parker said, “Even when the kids from the field trips come the children get disappointed when they see how there are so few apples to be picked. It makes me feel for the children in a way where I can’t do anything to help them.”
He was sad that the memory the children had might stay with them. He wants them to all love the memory of coming to Smolak’s.
When the Smolaks first started in the 1980s the Smolak family purchased 107 acres out of 160 that existed of the property available.
Since then the family had never seen a year like this with such high temperatures and little rain.
“In all the years we have been here we have never finished an apple-picking season this early,” Bill Smolak said.
About the lack of water, he said “It was an issue when we ran out of water to sufficiently water our whole crop. I would not purchase more water because it wouldn’t have made huge a difference in production.”
When I visited the farm I could see how much all of the attractions the Smolak family have invested in to make this a family location to enjoy the seasons.
Rachel Newman, head of educational programs at Smolaks said “Yes, the kids are a big part of why I’m still at Smolaks. I love it I’ve worked here since I was 15. I’m 24 now, so I just love it and can’t think of doing anything else.”
Newman’s job has become more involved but she is just as much a part of the family having worked at the farm for nearly ten years.
She always wants the children who come to have the best time possible. Having so many fewer apples has limited her ability to provide that.
In addition to family fun and a huge variety of apples and other fruits, Smolaks is known for something extraordinary. Their apple cider donuts are known for being some of the best around. People come from far away for them. When asked whether the apple production put a stop to the making of the donuts or not, Gail Smolak said “No, it didn’t because we outsource all the cider for the donuts so it didn’t affect the production of the donuts.”
With all the food that they make in-house, someone would have thought the apples were a big part of what they are cooking with.
But they have many other options so they are not reliant on the apples for the take-out portion of the business. They are doing well when it comes to their farm stand and prepared food, but with no more apples to pick their attendance will drop.
“Yes, I believe our attendance will drop significantly due to us having no apples but we hope to still get big crowds who will come for more than just apples,” Bill Smolak said.
It is the hope that Smolaks will have a better season for apples next year but with climate change and the weather patterns we have experienced, we have no idea what the next apple season is going to look like.
“We are here for the kids and families to make sure they have a good time I want all of you to know that,” Bob Smolak said.
The Smolaks say that this was the worst crop year for apples since they opened. It is the hope that next season will be better for the Smolak family.
