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News Regional & State News Apples, pumpkins, and other fall crops suffer damage from flooding
Monday, 19 September 2011 16:25

Apples, pumpkins, and other fall crops suffer damage from flooding

Written by  Megan Lello, witf Reporter and Producer

(Undated) -- Midstate residents may soon be on the lookout for pumpkins, apples, and other fall crops. But some farmers say there aren't as many of these fruits and vegetables to go around this year due to recent flooding. John Strite of Strites' Orchard Farm Market and Bakery in Harrisburg says Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee ruined apples and other crops. "The ripe tomatoes seemed to take the biggest hit," he says. "If they were a red tomato, they just cracked. It was just too much water at once going into them." Strite says damage could've been worse, but terraces and waterways that were built into the land about 20 years ago saved many for harvest. Kay Hollabaugh, owner of Hollabaugh Brothers in Biglerville, Adams County, says some of her farm's crops weren't as lucky. She says she might have to raise prices due to the limited quantity. "Not only do we have the loss of the pumpkins themselves, we have spent a lot of money in labor, cleaning up pumpkin mess, and it has been a no-win up until this point," she says. Hollabaugh says she's reached out to other growers to see if they'd sell some crops, but is unsure how much they'll be able to help since many in the region also suffered losses.

Megan Lello, witf Reporter and Producer

Megan Lello, witf Reporter and Producer

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