A Note from Michael:

The Thriving Farmer Podcast is currently on pause as we navigate a busy season on the farm. While we're taking this break, we're excited to share Farm in Focus, a special series of short, focused conversations recorded earlier this year. These bite-sized episodes highlight practical insights from farmers and experts across the industry. We hope they're helpful and encouraging as you continue your farming journey.

What makes husk cherries one of the most surprising—and delightful—novelty crops on the farm?

In this Farm in Focus episode, Michael sits down again with Katie Baldwin and Amanda Merrow of Amber Waves Farm to talk about one of their favorite unconventional crops: husk cherries.

Known for their tropical flavor, long shelf life, and enthusiastic customer response, husk cherries are a crop many farmers overlook—but shouldn't. Katie and Amanda break down everything from seed starting to trellising to harvest strategies, along with their best tips for selling, storing, and cooking with this fun fruit.

Whether you're looking to diversify your market table or try something new in the garden, this episode offers accessible, practical insights for growing a crop that always sparks curiosity.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

Getting Started: • Why husk cherries are a novelty crop customers get excited about [2:14] • Their favorite varieties and what makes each unique [3:32]

Growing Practices: • Seed starting tips and early care [4:10] • Fertility needs and trellising techniques that improve plant health [6:54]

Flavor & Marketability: • How pricing reflects the labor involved in harvesting [13:30] • Why their long shelf life makes them a smart market crop [14:30] • Their signature "pineapple-grape" flavor profile [15:05] • Why families—and kids especially—love growing and harvesting them [16:43]

Bio:Amber Waves began in 2008 when Amanda Merrow and Katie Baldwin met during a farm apprenticeship, sparking a friendship and a shared dream to feed their local community. A year later, they launched their farm on seven conserved acres behind the Amagansett Farmers Market, drawn to the land's unique coastal terroir, which inspired the name Amber Waves. In the early days, they personally connected with every visitor, cultivating a community that found comfort, inspiration, and empowerment through the farm. By 2016, with the support of dedicated locals and visionary women before them, Amanda and Katie secured ownership of the farmland and reunited it with the historic farmstand. Today, Amber Waves spans over 30 acres, operates a vibrant market and kitchen, and stands as a nationally recognized educational farm serving hundreds of families and visitors each year.

Links:

👩🏻‍🌾 Visit Amber Waves Farm's website: Amber Waves Farm 📺 YouTube: @amberwavesfarmNY 📷 Instagram: Amber Waves Farm 👍 Facebook: Amber Waves Farm

This episode is sponsored by Farm on Central:

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