This week on the FarmHouse, a podcast by Lancaster Farming, we're talking to Ashley Asdal, owner of Riamede Farms, a pick-your-own apple orchard in Chester, New Jersey.
Riamede has been in operation since the 1930s and opened its pick-your-own business in 1974, making it one of the first pick-your-own orchards in the state.
Many of Riamede's fruiting trees were planted during the farm's early days, making them nearly 100 years old. It's part of what makes the operation special, says Asdal, noting that most apple trees stop producing fruit after about 50 years.
"For these trees to have been planted in the late 1930s and still be bearing fruit for us nearly a hundred years later, I think it's really remarkable," Asdal said. "And it gives the orchard this totally different kind of step back in time feel that I think our customers really appreciate."
Aside from apple picking, Riamede's customers can also pick their own pumpkins, squash and sunflowers.
Asdal has also found success in hosting entertainment and events on the farm. The Saturday night line dancing series has become a popular draw and the farm's annual farm-to-table dinners featuring local ingredients sell out in a matter of days.
"I think I have people who care about this farm and support it," Asdal said of what brings people to Riamede to celebrate local fare. "They like the feel of it. I think they like that it's fresh and it's local, and they know where the food is coming from."
Before coming to Riamede, Asdal had no plans to pursue agriculture. She graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and planned for a career in the Navy.
But life had other plans, and in 2019 when a family acquaintance asked if Asdal would like to run a farm, Asdal decided to dive in.
Though she had no agricultural background, Asdal believes the skills she developed over 15 years spent in the military helped prepare her for the transition to farming.
"You learn a lot of discipline. You learn to wake up early in the morning, to have a long day, to lift heavy things. To make decisions. To think about risk and quantifying risk in clear ways, both to yourself and to the people who work with you. You learn to lead. I mean, all of those are really important farming skills," Asdal said.
Farming may not have been what Asdal initially envisioned for herself, but she's happy where she is and encourages more women to think about pursuing agriculture.
"I just think there's a lot of room for women to lead here and to have their own voice and also a different perspective," said Asdal. "I think that the perspective that women bring to the agriculture field, it's kind of sorely needed."
You can find more information on Lancaster Farming story discussed in the beginning of this episode here:
