Storms haunt the Halloween season at area farms

They will probably cost a little more and some may come from as far away as North Carolina, Ohio, and Indiana. But plenty of pumpkins should be available this fall for traditional pies and Halloween jack-o'-lanterns.

Just don't mention "Irene" and "Lee" when making purchases at farmers' markets in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

The hurricane and tropical storm at the end of August and beginning of September flooded fields, destroyed tens of thousands of pumpkins, and hurt the region's agritourism business.

Some farms were forced to put off lucrative hayrides to pick pumpkins because the fields are too muddy. At least one Pennsylvania farm has canceled rides scheduled for thousands of schoolchildren this fall.

"The farmers got a triple whammy this year," said Bill Wehry, executive director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency in Pennsylvania. "First, we had a cold, wet spring, so they couldn't get into the fields until late.

"Then, the spigot was turned off and we got dry, so they had to irrigate crops, putting in more investment. Finally at harvest, we got excessive rain. It's been a very difficult time for producers."

The rain "devastated the vegetable and pumpkin crops," Wehry added. "The excessive moisture caused the pumpkins to grow too fast and split open."

Because of the mud, many farmers also could not get back into their fields to "maintain their normal preventive practices to stop diseases," said Paul Hlubik, executive director of the USDA's Farm Service Agency in New Jersey. Fungi developed on waterlogged pumpkins.

The rains and winds were not as much of a problem for decorative cornstalks, but even some of them were flattened by Irene and Lee.

"The overall output [of pumpkins] is lighter than usual, but a good quality crop will be available," Hlubik added. "There just won't be as big a selection."

In Cherry Hill, Springdale Farms is selling its own pumpkins and supplementing the local shortage by purchasing some from North Carolina.

"We'll have pumpkins and don't anticipate a problem," said the farm's co-owner, John Ebert.

He would normally buy more from Lancaster County, but farms there "have been affected by the weather, too. They have the same issues," Ebert said.

In Muncy, Pa., near Williamsport, Tom Styer lost 10 acres of pumpkins - about 20,000 of them - to the heavy rainfall. It was only the second time in 36 years that he has lost the crop.

By purchasing pumpkins for Styer's Farm Market, "I'm basically buying the crop twice," he said. "I had taken care of all the expenses [for the pumpkins in the field] except for picking."

"Now I have to buy pumpkins, and the prices are crazy," he said. "I'm still shopping, but I have some lined up."

Wholesale prices for pumpkins have doubled in some places, and that means paying more money at farmers' markets and supermarkets. "The shortage and shipping costs drive up the price," Wehry said.

Another casualty of the wet weather: some of the area's agritourism business.

Styer had to cancel hayrides that would have brought up to 5,000 schoolchildren to his fields. They are filled with "slimy mud. It's not safe to take them down there," he said.

Still, losses have been spotty. Some farmers "lost entire fields of pumpkins while others didn't have any damage," said Lynne Richmond, a spokeswoman for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. "We're assessing the damage."

The severity of farmers' problems has largely depended on the soil and topography of the fields. Pumpkins on ground that is well-drained and more sandy tend to be less affected by the rain.

At Johnson's Corner Farm in Medford, the weather was not a challenge. Good drainage and a crop of vetch provided a perfect growing environment for pumpkins. The vetch dies in May, leaving a matted half-inch of natural mulch through which the pumpkin seeds were planted. It kept the pumpkins off the ground.

"Ninety percent of the farmers don't do this," said Eric Johnson, a co-owner of the farm, as he stood near pallets and bins filled with pumpkins. "Our crop is very good this year.

"Columbus Day weekend is when we'll really rock and roll."

Many farms also have not seen any effect on agritourism. They are still having hayrides, pumpkin and apple picking, corn mazes, winery tours, and festivals.

"Despite many weather challenges this season, New Jersey farmers are welcoming the public onto their farms for everyone's favorite fall activities," said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher, who visited Friday with Fred and Cheryl-Ann Sorbello, who make Fralinger's Apple Cider and their own local brand at their Hill Creek Farms in South Harrison Township.

"These farm visits create lasting memories for families, teach children about where their food comes from and the importance of sustainable local agriculture, and help generate revenue that keeps farmland in production," Fisher said.

Pumpkins are part of agritourism at this time of the year, said Ben Casella, research associate for the New Jersey Farm Bureau, an agriculture advocacy group with 13,000 members. They are crowd-pleasers.

"Farmers may be limited on how much more they can charge" for them, Casella said. "They don't want to scare people away with excessive prices. They have to be careful."

In the end, Hlubik said, pumpkins "may be a little more expensive, but farmers will do what it takes to serve their customers."

To see an interactive map of where you can pick your own pumpkin, go to http://www.philly.com/

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