“The past cold winter has most growers in the East running at least a little late,” Richard Papen, sales manager of Papen Farms Inc. in Dover, DE, told The Produce News in late May.

“But the weather has been good this spring and if it warms up in the coming few weeks, we won’t be too late. And the crop quality is looking real decent,” he added.

Growers need good crops in order to keep their heads above water today. Papen pointed out that the cost of everything related to production, packaging and trucking has increased.

Richard Papen, sales manager of Papen Farms, proudly displays the company’s sweet corn and cabbage.“Costs have gone up in every aspect of farming, including seed, labor, harvesting, packing and trucking,” he said. “You can’t grow fresh produce today at the prices that were possible ten years ago. Add to that the high cost and food-safety and traceability initiatives and you realize why the cost of food has to go up for everyone — all the way to the consumer. We make a living, but there’s nothing left over.”

But when farming is a strong part of your heritage, farmers stick with it with strong determination. Papen Farms has been in business for over 70 years and is now in its fourth generation of family management. There are currently three generations of Papen family members working in the business. Papen represents the second generation. His and his cousins’ sons, and their sons, represent the third and fourth generations. In all, there are now over 10 family members involved in the operation.

“My grandson, Cole Papen, is graduating from high school this year and he’ll also be joining the business,” said Papen. “Cole will be working in the field. There are a lot of family members working in the company, but everyone has his own unique ability and individual position.”

Papen farms is located on about 2,000 acres in Dover on the Eastern Shore. The operation produces sweet corn, cabbage and green beans for the fresh market. Some are double crops, such as its 600 acres of cabbage and 600 acres of green beans. The remainder of its acreage is dedicated to sweet corn, which runs continually through September 15. Other crops run through the first of August. There is then a pause in production until the fall crops begin, typically running from September through October.

“We are anticipating a good crop this year,” said Papen. “We had a heavy storm last week, and some hail was reported nearby, which we were fortunately spared. Cabbage is scheduled to start on June 15 and sweet corn harvest is planned to begin around July 10. Some later crops could come on earlier and even things out. I think all of the eastern growing regions will have a window because everyone is in the same situation. Corn looks to be about a week later than normal.”

Papen also noted that the labor force looks to be in good condition this year.

The company sells its produce under the “Papen Farms” label. Its customers are wholesalers, brokers and retailers, including major chain stores.

“We ship a lot of product to Florida, especially in August when it’s very hot and nothing is being produced there,” Papen explained. “Alternatively, early in the year we ship a lot of product to the Northeast, including into New England, when growers there are not in production. We also ship as far west as the Mississippi River. Wherever there is demand, we’ll ship to that area, but most of the demand on our product is based on seasonal growing conditions up and down the East Coast.”

Papen Farms continues to focus on its food-safety program.

“We are third-party audited, and in full compliance with all the required certifications, including traceability,” said Papen. “We continually update our facility. Currently we are putting in new units in our cooling rooms. We are always making improvements and updates.”