LOVELOCK - Farm fresh tomatoes still on the vine can be picked for free this Saturday at the Doubletree Ranch north of Lovelock. Last weekend, locals took home plastic bags stuffed with the surplus produce but there are plenty of hoop house tomatoes left to pick.
"There are green ones, red ones and pink ones," Carol Shank said of her diverse and plentiful tomato crop. "There are still lots of tomatoes and I don't want them to rot."
Along with tomatoes, Shank and her husband John grow an abundance of other food, including peppers, squash, onions, garlic, herbs and rhubarb. This year, the "retired" couple trucked their produce to farmer's markets throughout northwestern Nevada.
After an exhausting summer, the Shanks are resting up for the next growing season.
Last week, John Shank unloaded 831 pounds of tomatoes at the Northern Nevada Food Bank for distribution to senior centers and nonprofit groups in Reno and other areas.
This summer, the couple held bi-monthly farmers markets in Lovelock but much of their produce went to their regular customers at larger markets outside of Pershing County.
"We did about 60 markets this year and we wore ourselves out," Carol Shank said. "We did Sparks every Sunday, we did Hawthorne and Lovelock every other Friday and we were out here at the ranch every Saturday. We did Winnemucca and Battle Mountain a couple of times - it was a lot of markets."
John Shank is now a regional celebrity known as "Farmer John," thanks to a weekly radio show broadcast across northern Nevada by KKOH in Reno. During the Saturday morning garden show, Shank called in to notify listeners of his produce for sale at the Sunday farmer's market in Sparks. The "Nevada Grown" market at the Rail City Garden Center featured only Nevada produce thus eliminating competition by California growers.
A large trailer, funded by the USDA, increased Shank's capacity for transporting produce from Doubletree Ranch and other farms as well as fruit from California.
"We did what we were supposed to do as far as taking produce throughout northwestern Nevada. We put on an average of 600 miles a week," he said. "The trailer was designed to pick up from different producers and suppliers and then distribute it to folks at various markets. Some of the markets were up and some of the markets were down. Winnemucca is a good market because of the mining economy and the market did well in Hawthorne."
In a cooperative effort, Shank distributed melons, cantaloupes, corn and other produce from Lattin Farms, Workman Farms, Slanted Porch and other growers in Fallon.
"We picked up stuff we couldn't grow here," Shank said. "Our market was expanding so much, we couldn't keep pace with what we had here (at Doubletree). By the time we picked everything we had, we still needed to supplement from the other growers."
Shank said it was a good year for testing the market but he's uncertain about next year. He's still analyzing his costs and researching less costly distribution methods.
"If the fuel costs stay the way they are, we may cut back," Shank said. "We're researching different avenues for getting the product to the rural counties. We've also talked to some of the senior voucher programs - it's possible they may come to the ranch to shop rather than us taking it to them. The senior voucher program is one of our big concerns."
Shank confirmed there's a "huge" demand for local produce, but it's difficult for small growers to keep food prices low with the costs of production and distribution.
"The problem is we can only charge so much," he said. "It isn't like we include the cost of fuel and raise the prices. Then you're going to price yourself right out of the market."
As well as chemical-free produce, the couple offers homemade "Farmer John" jams, relishes, salsa, apple butter and other canned preserves plus zucchini pineapple nut bread. The sales of over 600 loaves of bread and the other products helped offset Shank's costs.
This week, the couple attended a USDA seminar on potential local food markets.
"We're going to a seminar on Tuesday that has implications through the USDA to do more local grown (food) for schools, restaurants and so forth," he said last Saturday. "There are things developing that will cut down on travel costs. It hurts when I make a 125 mile trip to Hawthorne and back that costs me $135 in fuel. That's ridiculous!"
Shank said this year he spent nearly $1,500 per month on gas and diesel. He's looking into sharing fuel costs with other growers as produce is trucked between markets.
Earlier this year, in partnership with SunScience Corporation, Shank grew tomato plants in a high-tech, solar-powered green house at his farm. The facility was designed to extend his growing season but it now stands idle and his deal with the company has ended.
"The solar project is on hold," he said. "The company we were involved with had some setbacks, to be nice about it. They couldn't produce what they thought they could produce due to the economy or whatever but they are no longer associated with us."
Shank said the general election results will factor into his farm strategy for next year. He's concerned about new regulations and tax increases that could drive up his costs and cause more economic harm to his customers.
"To tell me that the economy is on the way up is ridiculous," he said. "We know what it is when I go to all these markets. I see the middle class and what money they have."
After looking at this year's costs, Shank may scale back the regional distribution and concentrate on the local market by opening the farm several days a week to local shoppers. Farm-based markets, such as Lattin Farms in Fallon, are going strong, he said.
"We feel good because we had a good season and we did a lot of good things," Shank said. "We met some very fine people at these markets and we have lots of loyal customers. We stayed active and we're having fun but can we afford to do it?"
Shank said he's considered the idea of a community garden at Doubletree Ranch with participants trading farm labor for a share of the produce.
"People could come out here and help us do the gardening (in exchange) for fruits and vegetables," he said. Shank has many other ideas including a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program that would offer regular home produce deliveries.
Carol Shank said she loves the farmer's markets and the people they have met but next year she'd like to spend less time away from the farm. For her, the farmer's market circuit was a worthwhile but exhausting experience. She also serves as a Pershing County Commissioner and attends numerous advisory board meetings.
"I want to be home more," she said. "By that, I mean I want to concentrate on this market at the farm and in Lovelock. We have customers in Winnemucca and different areas that said they would come (to the farm). We just need to be here and be open and grow all kinds of wonderful stuff. I'm excited about that."
On Saturday, Doubletree Ranch will re-open for a second Saturday of "U Pick Tomatoes" from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pickers are requested to bring their own basket, bag or box and to take only what they can consume. The farm address is 1775 Loorz Road, a couple of miles north of Lovelock or call the Shanks at (775) 835-3775 for more information.
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