During a recent field trip to Indian Ladder Farms, students from Carmen Fagnani’s Plant Science and Real Life Agriculture classes had the opportunity to explore the intricate workings of the apple industry. With the fall season in full swing, the students gained firsthand insights into the various facets of apple cultivation, production and processing. The comprehensive tour included a tour of the orchard, a detailed examination of the orchard’s cold storage and shipping facilities and a demonstration of the cider pressing process.
During the visit, students spoke with the farm’s manager and delved into the impacts of nature on apple blossom fertilization and the local economy. For example, this past spring, there was a late frost. A late spring frost affects the fertilization of the apple blossoms, and ultimately, the economy is affected. Teacher Carmen Fagnani points out that New York is the country’s second-largest apple-producing state. She says students learned a lot during the field trip.
“Students spoke with the farm’s manager about what it takes to start and run an orchard and cidery,” Fagnani said. “They were particularly interested in the cidering process.”
This experience ended with fresh cider and donuts and allowed students to connect theory with real-world practices in agriculture and horticulture. 
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