For the dozens of independent growers of Green Bluff, October isn't just pumpkin season — it's the four-week stretch that determines whether farms turn a profit or end the year in the red. Following a summer marked by wildfire smoke, high well-water pumping costs, and rising inflation, farmers are counting on clear fall weekends and steady Harvest Festival crowds to carry them through until spring. 

Adapting to these compounding climate and economic pressures has become what some growers call the "new reality" of keeping an orchard afloat. The fall season for most Green Bluff growers ends Oct. 31, making October the last month to sell fall produce and products, explains Jane Deitz, co-owner of Bodacious Berries, Fruits and Brews LLC, which also does business as Big Barn Brewing. Deitz co-owns the farm with her husband, Craig.

October is typically the most profitable month for the farm, she says, and as long as the weather remains fairly dry and temperate, this year will be more of the same for growers.

“We call it 'Black October,' as us farmers were in the red until October comes, and then suddenly we’re in the black and we hang on until the next May,” says Deitz. “We hope for good weather because it’s very weather dependent. People don’t want to come get pumpkins when it’s raining.”

Farms located at Green Bluff, an agricultural community about three miles northeast of Mead, offer a variety of you-pick fruits and vegetables, baked goods, drinks, and more. The community is made up of about 30 independent farms, according to the Green Bluff Growers Association website.

The Big Barn Brewing property grows strawberries, raspberries, peaches, apples, plums, hops, pumpkins, and Christmas trees, in addition to brewing craft beers, says Deitz. Since adding Christmas trees, the farm is operating year-round and maintains four full-time employees. 

While Deitz is withholding financial figures for 2025 and 2026, she says she anticipates higher foot traffic and earnings this season if warm, dry weather persists. That momentum is largely driven by the Green Bluff Harvest Festival, which opened in late September and draws peak weekend crowds through Oct. 31.

“Last year, all of us here were impacted by weather,” she says. “It seemed like every weekend it rained. Weather can really make or break the end of year.”

Dry weather, water limitations, and wildfire smoke in spring and summer is impacting Big Barn Brewing’s bottom line, Deitz says. The farm had to draw more water from wells instead of relying on rainwater, which increases costs and takes time. Smoke from fires also impacted visitor attendance this summer, she adds.

Despite a rocky start to the year, Deitz is expecting a strong fall turnout to offset earlier setbacks.

“It’s been a good season, although the water was difficult,” she says. “It’s just the new reality up here for all the farmers. We have to be prepared for that water expense.”

Brad Erovick, owner of Cherry Shack Orchard and Smith’s Hilltop Orchard, agrees and says the rest of October is shaping up to be a busy one. Erovick grows cherries, apricots, peaches, apples, pears, plums, grapes, squash, pumpkins, and other vegetables on 24 acres, with apples taking the top-selling spot. He also sells baked goods, cider, and other home goods.

Erovick declines to disclose revenue or visitation figures, but says this year is looking to be about the same as 2025, adding that crops are selling well this year. Beyond dry weather, Erovick notes that mounting operational expenses — including higher fuel prices, costly materials and supplies, and rising property taxes — are weighing on both farm revenues and guest turnout.

“I think because of fuel prices, people are budgeting more. Instead of coming up two weekends in a row, they may just come up one weekend,” he says. “Everything on their end costs more, so people are probably living on a tighter budget.”

Instead of raising prices, Erovick is looking to increase production to make up for higher costs. The farm prices you-pick apples at $1 per pound — a price that’s remained about the same for many years.

“In our 19 years, it’s always been a busy fall, so I don’t foresee anything too different,” he says. “Spokane’s growing, so it seems like there’s always plenty of people to come in the fall and get their fall vegetables and fruits. It’s a destination.”

For Rick Roening, who co-owns Roening’s on Green Bluff with his wife, Claire, the growing season is mostly over but fall and winter weather are expected to affect next year’s crop.

The 7-acre stone fruit you-pick orchard produces cherries, peaches, plums, and apricots through the beginning of September, with some plum varieties available through mid-October, he says. Cherries and peaches were successful crops this year, but the farm’s peach output was sparse due to a 2024 winter freeze that damaged peach trees.

“Our peach crop this year (was) quite small, but we planted 40 new peach trees this year, and we've ordered 75 peach trees for next year,” he says. “Because of the damage, we had to pull out probably 60% of our peach trees.”

As long as temperatures gradually decrease into winter, the farm shouldn’t experience any damage this year that will impact next year’s crop or revenue, he adds. Additionally, the farm’s trees aren’t irrigated, and Roening transitioned from chemical pesticides to predator bugs, such as ladybugs that help remove harmful aphids, which reduces costs further.

Roening declines to disclose the company’s revenue or visitation figures, but says this business this year has been more successful than last. 

“The participation of people coming up for you-pick has increased substantially since we started over 20 years ago, and fortunately, I think it'll continue,” Roening says. “August was a little tough because of all of the smoke that we had up here, but the weather is beautiful right now, and I'm seeing good traffic at the other farms.”