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Don't miss the Apple Festival! NC APPLE FESTIVAL Labor Day Weekend Friday Aug. 31 - Saturday Sept. 1 Click here to get the North Carolina Apple Education Kit: 
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© 1999-2003, Blue Ridge Direct Market Association. All information on this web site is copyrighted material of Blue Ridge Direct Market Association. Website design and hosting by CyTech Computers & Internet Solutions, Inc. |
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In
1976 the apples growers organized the Carolina Apple Processing
Cooperative known as "CAP". This organization was affiliated
with Red Cheek of Pennsylvania and remained a good market for
juice apples until 1984 when it was sold by the growers to H.P.
Bomers, Ltd. of Hereford, England. It is currently operating under
the name "All Juice".
National
Fruit Products Company of Winchester, Virginia, with a plant in
Lincolnton, North Carolina, Knouse Foods in Peach Glen, Pennsylvania,
and Adbury Beverages, (formerly Duffy-Motts), in Aspers, Pennsylvania
are three other companies where Henderson County apples are shipped
for processing. There are many other apple processing companies
that buy apples in the area.
The
North Carolina Apple Blossom Festival was organized in 1947 by
the Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce, Blue Ridge Apple Growers
Association, and the County Agricultural Extension Service. The
organization was later changed to the North Carolina Apple Festival.
The Festival, held each year during the latter part of August,
is climaxed with the King Apple Parade on Labor Day. The object
of this organization is to promote North Carolina apples and the
tourism industry in Henderson County.
Cultural
methods have changed drastically since 1936, as well as chemicals
used for controlling diseases and insects. In 1936 there were
only four chemicals used for controlling diseases and insects,
namely; liquid lime-sulfur, Bordeaux mixture, arsenate of lead,
and nicotine sulfate. None of these are used at present. These
have been replaced through the years by safer chemicals. Due to
EPA regulations and reviews many chemicals are being lost for
use on apples and other crops. There are also herbicides used
for controlling weeds, brambles and grasses.
There
are many organizations in the county that have worked with the
apple growers to develop the industry. Some of these include:
Agricultural Extension Service, (North Carolina Cooperative Extension
Service); Farmers Home Administration, (Farm Service Agency);
Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, Vocational
Agriculture Department, Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce, Production
Credit Association, (Mountain Farm Credit ACA); and many of the
local banks and business leaders.