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About Capital press. (Salem, OR) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (March 13, 2015)
March 13, 2015 CapitalPress.com 19 Fewels keep changing to meet new challenges By ERICK PETERSON Fewel Farms For the Capital Press Change is the only con- stant at Fewel Farms of Pross- er, Wash., according to its owners, Scott and Josh Fewel. Scott moved to Prosser with his father and started the farm in 1977, beginning with beans and small grain crops. In time, they moved into po- tatoes and mint. “We’ve done just about ev- erything since,” he said. Fewel Farms has grown several different vegetable crops over the years, and they have also raised grains and fruit. They have also raised various ornamentals, includ- ing pumpkins, on the farm’s 880 acres. “We’ve always tried to find a niche here or there, and have looked to doing what is profitable,” Josh said. In so doing, they have dropped some crops, such as potatoes and mint, when they were not profitable enough for them. These two crops in par- ticular, they found, required a lot of land to make money. It was better to raise other veg- etables. When they decided that apples would also be profit- able, they entered the apple market. This willingness to make changes has led to a degree of success, they said. “It’s kept us around, any- way,” Scott said. Owner: Scott and Josh Fewel Started: 1977 Acres: 880 Location: Prosser, Wash. Crops: Pumpkins, watermel- on, apples, peppers, aspara- gus, cucumbers, peas, corn Erick Peterson/For the Capital Press Scott and Josh Fewel stand on the grounds of Fewel Farms in Prosser, Wash. But in addition to merely sticking around, they have expanded. They purchased another 800-acre farm, which is in Hermiston, Ore. Challenges are numerous, according to Josh and Scott, and they complain of compet- ing farms and of retailers who keep prices down. Perhaps the largest con- cern, however, is labor. The farm employs 20 to 300 work- ers, depending on the time of year. And it is often difficult to attract all the people needed. Wages for the workers in- crease, as they are in demand. They also go up with the state’s minimum wage. “We’ll be paying people $18 an hour before too long, I’m afraid, just to get people up here to work,” Josh said. Many other farms in the area have hired people during the off-season and have kept them occupied until they are most needed. This is expen- sive, they said, but there is not much choice for local farm- ers. Fewel Farms has also fol- lowed this practice. “It’s been tough,” Josh said. But he added that next year might be easier, as the year’s apple crop looks to be small. Workers, who would ordinarily flock to nearby large fruit companies, may be looking for other work. Fewel Farms’ labor com- petition with local fruit com- panies is less of an issue than with some other farms, as Fewel’s fall ornamentals harvest does not have much overlap with local apples. Blueberry and cherry grow- ers, they said, have a larger conflict with large apple pro- ducers. Still, the people at Fewel Farms have sought ways to mitigate their labor issues. They have, for instance, experimented with auto- mated pickers. Though the machines have not worked well for them — as there were issues with the size variation in ornamentals — the owners will continue to observe new technologies. Likely, they said, future machines will do what is needed and be gentler to crops. Until then, the farm will continue its tradition of change, increasing apple plantings and whatever else will lead to greater profits. “We’ll continue down the same road that we have,” Scott said. “If some- thing looks good to us, we won’t be afraid to try it.” 3390 SW Hwy 97 • Madras, OR 97741 Al Short, Manager SEED DIVISION P F C E QUALITY CONTRACT PRODUCTION: • Alfalfa Seed • Turfgrass • Vegetables • Cereal Grains 541.475.2605 541-475.2540 541.980.4850 ashort@wilburellis.com Trained Field Agronomists on staff. S15-2/#5 Water Master Series and Evergreen “Superior Service & Design” • Dairy • All your needs for Waste Equipment irrigation parts service Truck Equipment • We build custom equipment • Full Service • Alterations for your special needs. • Dump bodies • Hoists • Hose replacements and fusion repairs • Farmbeds • Flatbeds S15-7/#7 • Transport Tanks • Rental Returns & Used Equipment Valley Fab Corp. 10910 Portland Rd. NE • Brooks, OR Call: 503-792-3739 • Fax: 503-792-3738 S15-2/#7 S15-7/#6
