RSVP by Sept. 10
Chris and Tracy Deal and their family will host a Practical Farmers of Iowa field day Thursday, Sept. 13, from 9 am to noon at Deal’s Orchard.
Deal’s Orchard is a fourth-generation apple orchard near Jefferson operated by Chris and Tracy Deal, Benji Deal, and their parents Jerald and Cindy Deal. The first apple trees were planted at Deal’s Orchard in 1917.
Since then, the orchard has involved four generations of the Deal family, and has diversified beyond apples to include a range of enterprises.
Now a popular family agritourism destination, the orchard today has 45 acres of apple trees – including 25 apple varieties – as well as sweet corn, tomatoes, squash, pumpkins and Christmas trees. The Deals also produce fresh and hard cider, and apple cider doughnuts.
The Deal family will share their experiences with cider and pumpkin production at the Practical Farmers of Iowa field day.
The event – “Cider and Pumpkins at Historic Deal’s Orchard” – is free and will include lunch. RSVPs are appreciated for the meal to Debra Boekholder, 515-232-5661 or debra@practicalfarmers.org, by Monday, Sept. 10.
The field day will focus on how the Deal family manages two aspects of their diversified farm: pumpkin production, and the processing and marketing of fresh and hard cider.
In addition to selling at the farm, Deal’s Orchard apples, fresh cider and hard cider can be found at grocery stores throughout central Iowa. Their hard cider can be found on tap at many popular spots in the Des Moines area, including the Iowa Taproom, el Bait Shop, Fox Brewing and New American Brewing Co.
