Crop changes on the Eastern Shore

[David-C]

Mike, We have thought about doing the dinner ride. You recommend it? David

Rode on the Diner car out of Cape Charles down the tracks...
It was interesting to see the area from the rails..

Capt Mike

[Al B]

When Webster's / Kane-Miller closed down in Cheriton, the decline started.

[baysider]

Nice to see so many ES experts. Plainly put East Coast Growers pulled out of the area this year. They farmed many thousands of acres along the highway from one end of ESVA to the other. It is unfortunate as a couple of my friends worked for them, but have found other jobs. I worked for them some years ago.
The sandy soils here are ideal for growing tomatoes, and like any farming there are good years and bad years in crop and market. Kuzen's and Pacific are still in operation. East Coast and Taylor and Fulton have closed.

jrhjr your exactly right. They have stayed here for decades because they loose money each year. They also own most of the farms they work, not all but most. They have leased nearly all of that owned land to local farmers. Can you elaborate on your definition of "questionable farming practices"? They are limited to the same fertilizers/chemicals as anyone else.

[CaptMikeStarrett]

The diner was good, the scenry was trashy (rail yard stuff) and the ride not smooth. The three AC units blasted ice cold air and my loverly bride had to wear napkins to stay warm. But it was fun and very different.

Capt Mike

[Krabill]

Irrelevant to the crops but, we had the one of the tomato company owners on a charter about 5 years back. Should seen his wife/girlfriend who stepped on the boat with tall high heels and dressed like a working girl, except for a rock on her finger that i am sure cost more than the boat.

[Al B]

baysider - is anything being done with the old Webster's canning plant? Heard a few businesses have tried over the years. Odd, but I kind of miss the red stained roads... especially there at the tracks in Cheriton. Seemed that hump always made a bunch of tomatoes jump off the trucks.

[baysider]

The diner was good, the scenry was trashy (rail yard stuff) and the ride not smooth. The three AC units blasted ice cold air and my loverly bride had to wear napkins to stay warm. But it was fun and very different.

Capt Mike

You should have seen how many tar paper shacks with primestar satalite TV there used to be along the track years ago. Talking about trashy scenry. And the ride, try that slow rocking at 10mph from CC to Pocomoke. My gawd it was hard to stay awake!

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baysider - is anything being done with the old Webster's canning plant? Heard a few businesses have tried over the years. Odd, but I kind of miss the red stained roads... especially there at the tracks in Cheriton. Seemed that hump always made a bunch of tomatoes jump off the trucks.

Last I heard that catamaran company was going in there but that was years ago and I dont think anything ever happened. You know how it is. If it brings jobs Northampton doesnt want anything to do with it.

[Al B]

We used to hop that train, ride it from Cheriton to Cape Charles as a kid... lots of years ago. Then straight to Savage's for a brown paper bag of french fries and some ice cream.

[baysider]

George and Tommy are the ones that introduced me to duckin. I always loved going in there as a kid.

[Al B]

Yeah, it's a shame there's not more business development on the lower shore. I've always said that a yearly pass to the CBBT should be available to the residents of Northampton Co. That'd surely help things.