Farming on the SR162 Farming Corridor

  • ORTING VALLEY FARMING HISTORY

 

  • SEASONAL RETAIL BUSINESS YOU LOVE

 

  • HOW DO THEY SURVIVE?

Valley History*

 

  • 1865 - Hop farming became the dominant crop and the identity of the Puyallup Valley.  Hops were first planted in the Puyallup Valley around 1865, and made millionaires of many valley farmers. The sudden and permanent demise of hop growing in the Valley came in the 1890's because of hop aphids and mildew. 

 

  • Late 1890’s - After the devastation of the hop farming, valley farmers turned to berries and flower bulbs.  By 1912, the Puyallup and Sumner Fruit Growers’ Association had 1,300 members and was considered the largest association of fruit growers in the world.  Spooner Farms along SR162 is one of the largest and oldest berry growers in the valley, dating back to 1882

 

  • 1925 - Daffodils came to the Puyallup Valley around 1925 to replace the area’s dying hop industry.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommended bulb growing because of the Valley's excellent soil and ideal climate. "By 1927, the valley was producing 23 million bulbs and by 1929, 60 million” (Price-Anderson, p. 92).  

 

  • 1970’s - Fresh trees are becoming more popular after the surge of the artificial Christmas tree.  There still is a growing market for fresh cut Christmas trees.  The family experience of choosing and cutting your own tree is an anticipated adventure.  

 

  • Valley Crops Today - Berries, rhubarb, vegetables, and holiday trees remain the primary crops of the Puyallup Valley today.  Seasonal farm direct offerings include Pumpkin patches, U-pick berries, garden starts, and trees for the Christmas holiday season.

Seasonal Farm Business and Education

 

  • Seasonal business runs from June to December in the Orting Valley

  • Visitors are welcome throughout the season

  • School districts visit the farms during the school year

  • Special events are offered at harvest time to entertain and sell pumpkins

  • Christmas tree U-cut and pre-cut farms are open for the holiday

  • The June to August berry season offers strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries

  • Truck farmers grow vegetables that can be found in local food outlets

How Can Farms Survive?

 

  • Farming threats include:

    • Roundabouts along the SR162 farming corridor preventing access and egress to farms for customers and farm equipment

    • Traffic gridlock on SR162 discourage customers from visiting farms

    • Increasing government restrictions and regulations

    • Wholesale market costs increases

  • Retail Sales

    • A large part of our valley farming success comes from your support through your direct purchases at the farms

    • Holiday and harvest special events provide an annual family outing opportunity

    • Stopping on the way home for a box or two of freshly picked berries is another way to support our farmers and is it worth the stop!

    • Every house should have at least one fresh cut Christmas tree that can fill the house with the tree fragrance

*Excepts from Puyallup — Thumbnail History, By Frank Chesley Posted 1/22/2008 HistoryLink.org Essay 8447