Singer Farms of Appleton, New York, produces organic apples, a difficult feat to accomplish in the Northeast because of disease and pest pressures. “It’s next to impossible to do here,” said Jim Bittner, president and general manager of the 600-acre diversified tree fruit operation located near the shores of Lake Ontario, which is one of the few certified organic producers in the Northeast. “The insect issues are huge because we are surrounded by alternate hosts. There is constant pressure from the hosts around us.” Conventional apple orchards in New York typically receive four to five sprays for apple scab in […]