By Maryann Argyres -
It is unfortunate that Apple Hill has been singled out for negative
comments by Ron Briggs, candidate for El Dorado County District 4 supervisor.
Statements that, "We don't want Apple Hill-type activities in District
4," are surprising, especially from a candidate who professes the desire
to "keep it rural."
In the 42 years that Apple Hill has been in existence, the organization has become a recognizable model for sustainable agriculture. Agricultural areas throughout the United States want to emulate our success. What better way is there to maintain a rural area than to profitably farm the land?
The unrealistic belief that all agriculture should stay strictly pristine and out of sight is a formula for failure.
Apple Hill is not agribusiness. We are a group of 55 relatively small farms that work together to promote ranch marketing. People long to experience the rural farm setting but demand value-added products.
Forty years ago, customers bought 40 pounds of apples to process at home.
Those days are long gone. They now want pre-baked pies and other processed
products along with fewer pounds of unprocessed fruit.
Stop to think of 55 ranches offering the same product in the same way. Would you even consider visiting an area that offered only one product in one form?
Apple Hill ranches run the gamut from 1-acre pick-your-own farms to multigenerational, large acreage concerns. Along with growing fruit, our members also grow and produced award-winning wines and offer large tracts of Christmas trees. That diversity is one reason we are still thriving after 42 years.
Apple Hill's economic benefit to the county is truly profound. Don't forget the county residents employed at the ranches and the effect of their wages to the county. Don't forget county businesses that depend on the tourism dollars brought to their establishments. Don't forget the hotel-motel tax dollars realized when Apple Hill visitors stay overnight. This revenue is vital to the county.
Apple Hill has always felt the need to support our community. While Camino School has been the beneficiary of the annual Apple Hill Harvest Run, we have given almost $150,000 to the Parent-Teacher Organization for projects they develop.
Apple Hill also has awarded annual scholarships to graduating seniors at El Dorado High School for almost 20 years. Two students receive scholarships of $1,500 each.
The extremely busy time for Apple Hill consists of only eight days in October. The perception that the entire month of October is a "carnival" couldn't be further from the truth.
Even though our season begins with berries and stone fruit in early summer and runs through Christmas tree season, only four weekends in October are truly busy. Weekdays in Apple Hill in October offer unrushed roads and uncrowded ranches. Apple Hill farmers spend 12 months a year working to sustain their agricultural viability. It is frustrating that uninformed individuals bemoan attempts to realize some return for those efforts.
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