Operations with agritourism opportunities have really geared up for the fall season and everyone is hoping for great weather these next four weekends leading up to Halloween. The last weekend of September brought welcomed rain to the St Louis Metro East, breaking a moderate drought before it became too severe. Much of the region received over 3.5” mostly in a nice gentle manner; and the only thing that could have been better is if it had waited to start on Sunday night rather than Saturday, so the entire weekend was perfect for heading to the orchard or pumpkin patch. Temperatures have also significantly dropped, with highs predicted to stay in the 70s and lows dropping to the upper 40s to low 60s. As of this writing, it is still up in the air as to whether the aftermath of Hurricane Helene will bring additional rain to the region.

Apple harvest is in the Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Suncrisp, and Braeburn window. Strawberry plasticulture planting is completed and growers warned of Neopestalotiopsis from their supplier(s) are watching plantings closely for any signs of infection, as well as maintaining a preventive fungicide spray program. The pumpkin crop, both processing and ornamental is overall good this year. Tomato harvest is ongoing, though starting to decline as the weather continues to cool. A good chunk of wine grapes had been harvested in the last month, and growers are working hard to get the last of Norton and Chambourcin picked ahead of any Helene remnant rain this weekend. Like any fruit with high water content (tomato, watermelon, peach, etc.), the flavor profile can be dramatically different after a rain event, and usually not for the better because of the influx of water diluting flavor components.