Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Springing into Summer

As our season comes to an end in a couple of weeks, we are looking back on what has been a remarkable and bountiful harvest. The farm began this season with some weather events, including flooding, which gave us all some pause, but everything has worked out well. We are so fortunate in this respect, and also because we have such a dedicated and devoted group of employees who often work from sunup to sundown to grow, harvest and ship our produce. If you've ever visited the farm on a day when we are in full swing, you know that our staff is remarkable in their efforts to bring you the freshest, safest and best produce.

We want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for visiting with us this season and for buying our produce. At Long & Scott we never lose sight of the fact that all our efforts would be in vain if it was not for the support and patronage of our customers. We always say that we have the best customers and that is certainly the case season after season.

People often ask us what we do in the summer, as the general assumption is that we take time off. In some respects, that is true, as it is a vacation time for many of us. What we also do, however, is begin getting ready for the next season. The fall is a special time on the farm when we look forward to welcoming the community on to the property to not only see our operation, but have some fun doing it! We have many surprises in store for you this fall, including some additions to Scott's Country Market and Scott's Maze Adventures. Stay tuned for our updates and please stay in touch.

We look forward to seeing you in September when we'll be beginning our next harvest and fall season. Until then, a happy, healthy and enjoyable summer to everyone and our thanks again for such a memorable spring!

Anna Sciarrino
Director, Sales & Marketing
anna@longandscottfarms.com

Monday, May 16, 2011

How Water is Important to the Farm




One of the biggest challenges - and most important parts - of farming, is water. We not only have to give the crops the water that they need, but drain it off after heavy rains.

At Long and Scott Farms, we farm on flatwoods ground which has a natural hardpan. This hardpan allows us too irrigate and drain in a very efficient way. This is done by ditches that are placed sixty feet apart and about a foot deep. As water runs through the ditches it seeps out in the field and the hardpan keeps it from going down. There are also ponds on the farm that collect rain water that also affect the moisture in our fields. We can irrigate up to one hundred acres at the same time with one well.

When crops are irrigated overhead, much of the water evaporates. And when plant leaves get wet it creates perfect conditions for disease. Overhead irrigation is normally expensive and labor intensive. If water leaches, so does fertilizer. Ditch irrigation helps conserve water, fertilizer, chemical usage, labor and fuel. We grow our crops with minimum amounts of water needed for healthy plants and with minimal amounts of evaporation and run off. At Long and Scott protecting our natural resources is a top priority.

Do you have question about water and irrigation? Please send them along.

Cade Easley
Integrated pest manager
Cade@longandscottfarms.com

Friday, May 13, 2011

A Message from our Founder



I grew up in Virginia on our family farm, when liberty and freedom was enjoyed by my parents and seven siblings. Family was the glue that made it all work. Everyone was physically involved at an early age. The farm of 350 acres was planted in vegetables and stocked with animals for food and power. Family member’s dedication, inspiration, respect for each other and for our neighbors was expected and given.

In 1963 a call came from Bill Long, a Virginia Farm childhood neighbor. He suggested we come to Florida, buy some sand land and grow pickling cucumbers. My wife, our three children and I came to Zellwood and started on 35 acres. Today pickles are still our main crop, along with cabbage, sweet corn and a few other minor crops. Long and Scott Farms was established in 1963 and today is managed by Frank D. Scott III on almost 1,200 acres and pledged to produce and help feed this great country.

Frank D. Scott Jr.
Founder and Chairman of the Board
Long & Scott Farms

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Got Corn?


Many of our customers tell us that they surely know spring is here once they see our corn hit the market. Scott’s Zellwood Sweet Sweet Corn™, which has been grown on this farm for almost 50 years, is a long-standing spring (not to mention, fall) tradition. Hand-picked each day for maximum freshness, our corn is a triple-sweet variety and as many people have found out, can be eaten raw if that is your preference. But for those of you who do like to cook it, it takes only 3 minutes in boiling water after you shuck it, or just 2 minutes on high in the microwave for each ear (and you can leave the shuck on). One thing you don’t want to do it heat it too long. As we like to say – just long enough to melt the butter!

This coming weekend marks the 37th annual Zellwood Corn Festival. Though Long & Scott Farms does not put on the festival, we have supplied the corn for it all these years. Due to the economy, the festival was postponed last year, but is back for two days this year with lower ticket prices, as well as some other changes made by the North Orange County Improvement Association (N.O.C.I.A), the sponsor of the event. Long & Scott will have a booth at the festival to sell Scott’s Zellwood Sweet Corn™ and there are several outside vendors who will be cooking it as well. For more information, please visit their website www.zellwoodcornfestival.com.
In the meantime, please come visit Scott’s Country Market at the farm, or visit our farm stand on Hwy 441, just south of Zellwood, where we always have a ready supply of corn, as well as fresh, local produce. Thank you for your continued patronage and for supporting all of our efforts to keep providing our customers with the freshest produce in the area.

Do you have any corn recipes you’d like to share? Please send them along!

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Thelma's Special Day!!!


This weekend, we celebrate the birthday of one of our longest-standing and most devoted employees – Thelma! Those of you who shop at Scott’s Country Market have no doubt met her and love her as much as we do! If you come by, be sure to wish her a happy day. This is what comes of eating a lifetime of fresh and local food! Happy Birthday Thelma!

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Cover Crops

Long and Scott Farms is a diversified grower, as well as shipper. Some of the crops we grow are to be sold at different markets around the United States. Other crops are grown to build our soil, and we also grow crops to be sold at Scotts Country Market . Our primary crops are pickling cucumbers , sweet corn, sod, and cabbage. The vegetables that are grown on a smaller scale for the market are cilantro, peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, squash, onions, watermelon, sunflowers and okra.

Right now, as we finish with a pickle field, we plant a cover crop. Cover crops can be sorgumn sudan grass, millet, oats, rye and ryegrass. Cover crops are great for our soil. We rotate our crops to break up insect cycles and also so we don’t continue to pull the same nutrients out of the soil. These crops are grown just for the purpose of giving back to the soil . When they are worked into the soil, they are an excellent source of organic matter that builds the soil. They also are very helpful with disease control, weeds, erosion and soil compaction. If cover crops were not planted we would have to work the soil several times to control weeds ,so there is also savings on labor and fuel, as well as wear and tear on equipment.

I learned at a young age that dirt is not just dirt! It is a wonderful asset that helps to feed the world. Do you have any questions about cover crops or soil? Please send us your comments.

Cade Easley
Integrated pest manager
Cade@longandscottfarms.com