And the processing industry is an industry on the

And the processing industry is an industry on the decline, he said. “So the prices they pay growers are on the decline, too. There’s not as great a demand now for processed apple products plus the processing plants have had problems with labor and overhead. They know their fixed costs — the price of the can, labor and the plant. The only place they can hedge in order to stay competitive is the price they pay for the fruit,” Snead said.

He added that he’s read lately of a slight improvement in the economic picture for canneries but he didn’t hold out much hope that it would translate into an improved economic picture for Rappahannock orchardists as well. “We’ve just come through a touch recessionary period. And some industries — like the apple processing industry — are slower to recover than others. As long as enough apples are being produced to meet their needs, they have no incentive to raise their prices.”

In addition to lower prices offered for fruit, last year’s yield was lower, according to Snead. “We had drought and size problems. I had a 30 percent reduction in production as measured by weight. It was the worst year that I can remember — ever!” he concluded.

The ag census figures reflect the problems local orchardists have faced. The number of acres devoted to orchards here increased slightly from 2,178 in 1978 to 2,258 in 1982 with acres planted in apples going from 1,901 to 1,997. However, during the same four years, the pounds of apples produced in Rappahannock dropped from 21,254,260 to 18,382,612.

Still, assessing the overall outlook for agriculture in Rappahannock County Gordon Thornhill is as optimistic as any full-time farmer. “Farming is going to get better,” he maintained. “I don’t know how quickly but it’s going to improve. It has to,” the co-op manager added.