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SALT LAKE CITY -- Saturday was the last day of a season that started on a slow note. The cold weather late into the season kept farmers from keeping to a typical growth schedule. Still, the man behind Provo-based Smith Orchards says it's been one of his best years yet.
"As far as fruit and what we harvested, it was a great year. We had more peaches than we've ever had," said Scott Smith.
In fact, he just barely picked and sold the last of them.
"I don't ever recall ever picking peaches in the month of October," he said. "Two-thirds of my apples are still on my trees."
Others, like Leo Kennedy, don't call this year their best.
I don't ever recall ever picking peaches in the month of October. Two-thirds of my apples are still on my trees.
–- Scott Smith, Smith Farms
"It's been a good season, not excellent, but good," he said.
And with more competition this year than in years past, farmers have to make their produce stand out above the crowd. For Wilkerson Organics, that meant pumpkins.
"This year, we've done really good. Ever since we brought our pumpkins we've gotten more sales," said Vanessa Wilkerson.
Pioneer Park is always home to the farmers market, but this year there's a twist, it's also home to another group --Occupy Salt Lake City. The public may have noticed more than the farmers, though.
"I didn't even know they were here until i went over to use the restrooms," Kennedy said.
"They don't affect us though, we just keep going on," Wilkerson said.
Going on is something all of these vendors do automatically, as work for next year's crop starts almost immediately.
Email:corton@ksl.com.
