Page 18 - Flathead Beacon // 7.15.15

INFOCUS MULTIMEDIA SERIES
BY GREG LINDSTROM
Mitch Jones has replanted his orchards with varieties that ripen later to take advantage of the late-season market. He has also reduced the spacing between and the overall size of the trees in order to save time and effort when pruning and picking.
INNOVATION ON THE
ORCHARD Mitch Jones, Big Sky Orchards
“Weeds are my nemesis,” says Mitch Jones as he rides his trac- tor up and down the rows of his 15-acre cherry orchard near Yel- low Bay, spraying the base of each tree.
As monotonous as the task may seem, each time Jones hits the high point in his plot he is greeted with panoramic views of Flat- head Lake.
“Even on a bad day, you look around and go, ‘Wow, this is my office,’” he says.
Jones, who runs Big Sky Orchards, is a relative newcomer to the cherry business. But that hasn’t stopped him from research- ing the industry practices and modernizing his approach. Twelve years ago, he purchased an orchard on the south shore of the lake in Polson, and later another near Yellow Bay. The orchards both had 50-year-old Lambert trees, and it didn’t take long for Jones to replace them all with varieties that ripen later in the season. In addition to changing varieties, Jones planted the trees close together, which saves time on pruning and picking.
“I want to be an active participant,” Jones says. “I want to try and prove to myself, and anyone else, that you can make money at it.”
WATCH THE VIDEO: FLATHEADBEACON.COM
Have a good story idea? Call 257-9220 or email [email protected]
18
JULY 15, 2015 | FLATHEADBEACON.COM