Organic apples make D-hall debut

By Vivian Yun, contributing writer
Posted on November 8, 2007

JMU Dining Services and SGA are in the process of building a partnership with Bowman’s Turkey Knob Orchard in Timberville, Va. to purchase locally grown apples.

“JMU is trying to become greener and [Turkey Knob Orchard apples] are high-quality apples that are grown better,” said Shari Kornblatt, chairwoman of the food dining services committee. “The apples are more environmentally friendly and the orchards try to avoid chemical and non-green methods.”

The Dining Services management team and members of the SGA Food Committee visited the Turkey Knob Orchard on Oct. 22 where they picked apples and toured the packing plant to see how the fruit is washed, sorted and packaged for distribution. The apples from the orchard were delivered to D-Hall the next day and featured in the local and organic foods station in Café Roma.

“We have been working to build a partnership with this specific orchard and appreciate their allowing us to tour their operation and have the experience of picking apples in their orchard,” said Stephanie Hoshower, director of Dining Services.

For the past two years, Dining Services purchased apples from another Virginia orchard, but wanted to serve apples grown closer to Harrisonburg and build a long-term relationship with Turkey Knob.

President of Turkey Knob Orchards Jaime Williams said he is looking forward to working with JMU Dining Services.

“It’s really nice to be a part of the community and get an opportunity,” he said. “It’s nice to have locally grown apples in a local community.”

However, local apples are only in season from October through April. Hoshower said that during the off-season Dining Services purchases apples from Washington state.

Freshman Julie Kye is looking forward to eating the locally grown apples.

“They are probably fresher than before, which makes me curious now on how they taste,” she said.