Some Buffalo, N.Y.-Area Businesses Struggle with Effects of Washed-Out Summer.

Byline: Sharon Linstedt

Aug. 14--When Western New Yorkers think back on the summer of 2003, visions of rain-soaked picnics, canceled golf dates, flooded basements and muddy dogs will float through their heads.

Somewhere in the region, it has rained 20 of the past 22 days, according to the National Weather Service.

While today's weather promises to be sunny and dry, it could take weeks of blue skies to fade the musty memories of the past three weeks.

"Weather like this brings you back down to earth," said Paul Zittel of Amos Zittel & Sons Farms, of Eden. "You can have a string of great summers, then you get one like this that teaches us all some humility."

Depending on their location, local farmers are struggling with either slow-ripening produce or too-much-of-a-good-thing.

Landscaping companies are racing to keep up with fast-growing lawns and shrubs.

And it has been a summer of soggy discontent for just about …