August 2023 - 8

GROWER PROFILE
" This surprised us, but we are very
convinced it was that weed control
which helped the appearance, "
Fischer said. " If you look at the
amount of water consumed by grass
and other underbrush, it's staggering.
They are constantly competing with
the peach trees. "
Maintaining bare earth under
trees in root zones allows peaches,
even non-irrigated trees, to receive
adequate water. " We knew we had to
keep the weeds down, " Fischer said. " It
makes sense, but we didn't expect it to
be this successful, to show this much
vigorous growth. Being diligent on the
weed control really changes the health
of the orchard. "
Brush must be maintained by
manual shredding and weeding,
making the process more laborintensive.
A grower may need to
initially apply some herbicide, but after
weeds are cleared, it's a matter of
being thorough in hand weeding.
WE WANT TO BE A DESTINATION, WHERE PEOPLE
CAN COME AND VISIT OUR STORES, VISIT THE
DISTILLERY, ATTEND COOKING CLASSES AND
UTILIZE THE LOCAL FRUITS, VEGETABLES AND
HERBS THAT THIS REGION WORKS SO HARD TO
GROW DURING THE GROWING SEASONS.
- CASE " DIETZ " FISCHER, JR.
" Once you have the ground bare, it's
more of a diligence thing in maintaining
that bare earth, " Fischer said.
German heritage
The region's German and Texan
heritage provides a strong work ethic.
" You get up early, you work late, "
Fischer said. " You work hard and
never compromise. You have to have a
lot of tenacity. "
In 1914, German Joseph " JB " Wieser
immigrated to Texas. Working as a
lawyer, he entered crop building. In
1928, JB and Estella Wieser planted
their first peach orchard on 60 acres of
land south of Fredericksburg.
" They put down roots in a very Texan
way: think big, work hard and never
compromise, " Fischer said.
In 1969, Mark Wieser, chairman
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of the board and JB and Estella's
grandson, opened a roadside produce
stand in a restored 1870 log cabin. In
1979, at 15 years of age, the older Case
D. Fischer started working for Wieser
harvesting summer peaches. In 1986,
after studying food technology and food
and fiber marketing at Texas A&M,
Case D. Fischer partnered with Wieser
to form F&W Specialty Foods, which
sells peaches and other produce along
with jams, jellies, sauces and wines
made from area fruit.
The younger Fischer studied
WAFLER NURSERY
mechanical engineering at Texas A&M
and worked in wineries.
With the peach orchards adjacent to
the fruit stand, agritourism is a big part
of F&W.
" We want to be a destination, where
Over 100 VARIETIES of Superior
Quality Apple & Pear Trees
ORDER TODAY! 877.397.0874
WAFLER NURSERY
10748 SLAGHT ROAD | WOLCOTT, NY 14590
INFO@WAFLERNURSERY.COM
WAFLERNURSERY.COM
8 | AUGUST 2023
people can come and visit our stores,
visit the distillery, attend cooking
classes and utilize the local fruits,
vegetables and herbs that this region
works so hard to grow during the
growing seasons, " the younger Fischer
said. " As we grow, we will continue to
grow those activities. "
Eventually, the company plans
to construct a winery and
incorporate more food and wine
culinary adventures as well as a
bed and breakfast.
http://www.WAFLERNURSERY.COM
August 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2023
