Holmbergs Host Farm Bureaus

Four generations of Holmbergs have grown crop vegetables, chickens, bushes of raspberries and blueberries, trees with apples and peaches and now, with two acres of pinot noir grapes, presidents and directors of farm bureaus all over the northeast had a lot to hear about during a tour of the orchards Tuesday. 

"Everything looks like it's very well done," said Connecticut Farm Bureau President Don Tuller, of the orchards. "It's very impressive."

Holmberg Orchards was one of three farms in New London County seen by the group, which also went to Maple Lane Farms in Preston and Noank Aguaculture Cooperative in Noank.

Tuller said he was impressed that the farm was "very adaptive and looking toward the future."

Russell Holmberg, who is in the youngest generation of Holmbergs working on the 50-acre farm, was given credit by his father, Richard, for introducing a high-density planting zone of apple trees so they can do more with the land they have.

Richard Holmberg said trees planted in the high-density zone were given an area of 9-square-feet to grow instead of the usual 33-square-feet, and will be pruned to grow tall and narrow rather than sprawling out in all directions.

"The idea is to have them grow tall with a lot less tree and a lot more fruit," said the Russell Holmberg.

And, the elder Holmberg said, "we'll be able to prune, spray and pick faster and more effectively. It'll be a little easier on the back."