You might have noticed a little stand cropping up on your road selling corn or other garden fresh produce – they seem to be everywhere this year, and there’s a reason!
According to Stephen Boersma – a local producer at Yellow Brick Acres outside of Exeter, this year has been absolutely phenomenal growing conditions for local farmers (both hobbyists and otherwise).
Growing produce is Boersma’s main source of income, he spends his days tending to his crops, visiting local farmers markets, and making sure that his roadside stand on Highway 83 is well supplied with beets, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, sweet corn, and more. He says that one big investment really upped his game,
That protection from extreme weather was top of mind for Boersma this year, as the moisture on offer in the area has been fairly changeable.
Here in Exeter, although the spring’s initial dry conditions did prove challenging for some farmers, whose seeds struggled to get established, Boersma says that the dry conditions allowed planting in record time – with the timely rainfall in the region coming just in time to make sure that the dryness didn’t stunt any crops too much.
As for moisture in the Exeter area, Boersma says we’re in the goldilocks zone,
Although farmers in the area have been rolling the dice with the weather this year, their persistance has paid off – they continue to work hard to produce good quality food for locals and visitors alike.
Boersma says that growing local produce is a passion and a privilege,
Boersma at a local farmers market
Buying local not only has economic benefits, but Boresma says that it ensures the best possible product, with his farmers market harvest usually being less than 24 hours out of the ground, or off of the stalk before it’s in your shopping bag.
If you’re looking to get your hands on some of Boersma’s goods, you can swing by Yellow Brick Acres on Dashwood Road, just west of Exeter.
Written by: B. Shakyaver
