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  1. #1
    Senior Dog Mr Kleb's Avatar
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    And so it begins.

    Tomato harvest and canning season, that is.

    As you may know Faye works at a processing and canning plant. Processing began Monday and her role began today. She went to work at 5:30PM and will get off at 4:00AM Saturday. She will keep this schedule until mid-October-ish.

    A small favour. Please keep her, as well as other food processing workers, farmers and their help, in mind when you pick a can of tomatoes, paste, or any food for that matter, off the shelf or counter at the grocery store. Please especially do this on Labour Day, which for many of us is a holiday yet for them is simply another day at work.
    Andrew, Faye, Fitzi, and Lucy

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    3muttsketeers (08-28-2016), Bamps (09-01-2016), Blackboy98 (08-27-2016), Dallas dawg (08-27-2016), janedoe (08-27-2016), kimbersmom (08-27-2016), MikeLynn (09-03-2016), windycanyon (08-26-2016)

  3. #2
    Senior Dog windycanyon's Avatar
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    Definitely understand and can relate. My family used to raise processing tomatoes on the side (apples being the main commodity) and I'm a full time Ag consultant offering analytical services to apple/ pear growers etc out here in WA. Once mid July hits, I have no life and can't claim mine again until late October in most cases.
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  4. #3
    Senior Dog Scoutpout's Avatar
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    I wondered when she'd be starting again. Here at least the heat and drought haven't hurt the tomatoes, i hope with all the fuss in the last couple years that they've got a good crop to process.
    what hours they work, and its hard work, not just lazing around...
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  5. #4
    Senior Dog Mr Kleb's Avatar
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    windycanyon, thank you. How many acres of tomatoes did your family grow? So the processing season there ran about the same time frame, August to October? Late in the season here it can be a race against the first frost, which can happen in mid-October.

    Scoutpout, it could be a good crop. I'll have to ask Faye what the production/location code is; if you see it on a can of Hunt's or other it came from her.
    Andrew, Faye, Fitzi, and Lucy

    Not gone, only gone on ahead - Bruno, Rex, BoJo, Kendal, Kingsley, Moonpie, Avis, Corndog, Stella, and now Achilles

    I invite you to visit my blog, Hidden Content .

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  7. #5
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    Agriculture is a tough life no matter what the crop. "Make hay while the sun shines" applies to more than just cutting the hay. Which farmers here are getting their third cut of; again, despite the drought. OH worked in a provincial tree nursery and ran the shipping barn in spring. For three weeks I wouldn't see him except for part of one day of the weekend as I worked shifts, long days and early days.

    I hope Faye isn't too exhausted. I will look for her codes on cans but it looks like I won't be buying any for some time as I have one of my best tomato crops ever.
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  8. #6
    Senior Dog Mr Kleb's Avatar
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    Snowshoe, once I worked on a tomato harvester for two days, filling in. It was very, very educational and worthy of its own post sometime. I think everyone should do such work at least once to gain a better appreciation for where our food comes from. It is not impossible that our grandchildren will have to - industrial, mechanized ag may gradually disappear once diesel fuel costs, say, $4.00/liter and petroleum-derived fertilizers see similar cost increases.

    What tomato varieties are you growing?
    Last edited by Mr Kleb; 08-27-2016 at 08:49 AM. Reason: correct spelling
    Andrew, Faye, Fitzi, and Lucy

    Not gone, only gone on ahead - Bruno, Rex, BoJo, Kendal, Kingsley, Moonpie, Avis, Corndog, Stella, and now Achilles

    I invite you to visit my blog, Hidden Content .

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  10. #7
    Senior Dog windycanyon's Avatar
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    Oh gosh, I'd have to ask now as it's been >40 yrs now. Over 25 acres (probably more). They were all mechanically planted and harvested and I was probably in Jr High when we got out of it (planted more orchards on the land instead). I'm thinking harvest was over in Sept. We used ethephon to uniformly ripen the crop in zones to make it easier to harvest in a timely fashion. Had contracts w/ the major processors. Big crop years were a bitch as they'd get extra fussy just so they could reject loads... There would be a bit of cussing at my house when that happened.
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  11. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by windycanyon View Post
    Oh gosh, I'd have to ask now as it's been >40 yrs now. Over 25 acres (probably more). They were all mechanically planted and harvested and I was probably in Jr High when we got out of it (planted more orchards on the land instead). I'm thinking harvest was over in Sept. We used ethephon to uniformly ripen the crop in zones to make it easier to harvest in a timely fashion. Had contracts w/ the major processors. Big crop years were a bitch as they'd get extra fussy just so they could reject loads... There would be a bit of cussing at my house when that happened.
    Sounds like it hasn't changed much in 40 years. Think most of our growers plant close to 100 acres, maybe more. Last night was a chaotic start up. We have all new upper management people and they really haven't figured out what's involved. They started up all the lines at once, which meant you couldn't pair inexperienced people with experienced people to learn the basics of the equipment. Nothing is that complicated, but there is a need to get confident and learn the technique. I'm on a labelling line and have what I think is one of the best jobs in the plant . . .providing it runs well! Fortunately it runs well 95% of the time. If it doesn't, I can end up repiling 50 lb. cases onto a pallet. I could swear last night that those cases are heavier than last year. I was so glad to see 4am. One down, and another 40, or so to go.



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  12. #9
    Senior Dog janedoe's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Snowshoe View Post
    Agriculture is a tough life no matter what the crop. "Make hay while the sun shines" applies to more than just cutting the hay. Which farmers here are getting their third cut of; again, despite the drought. OH worked in a provincial tree nursery and ran the shipping barn in spring. For three weeks I wouldn't see him except for part of one day of the weekend as I worked shifts, long days and early days.

    I hope Faye isn't too exhausted. I will look for her codes on cans but it looks like I won't be buying any for some time as I have one of my best tomato crops ever.
    They didn't even get a second cut of hay here. They tried but there wasn't enough really to bale so they abandoned it. Someone did down the road but not half as much as usual. Very few people watered though which was a big deal when my father had hay fields so that was confusing. Maybe they just aren't used to droughts around here.

    I completely appreciate where our food comes from. Good for Faye for working in the industry. For those who don't know, canned tomatoes are infinitely better for you than greenhouse grown out of season so definitely buy those.

  13. #10
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    Now every time I pick up a can of tomatoes I will think of Fay and smile. Good thoughts to all

 



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