Orchardists represent a sliver of American agriculture. Most of our nation’s farmers grow field crops such as corn, wheat, and soybeans. Many raise livestock, for meat or dairy. Others in the produce sector tend fields of potatoes or carrots or lettuce. All in all, fewer than 2 percent of our nation’s 308 million people can claim direct ties to production agriculture. Until recently, questions from city people about agriculture only touched lightly on farming methods. After all, until about a century ago, many urban and suburban residents had grown up on farms and, if they had not, were likely to […]