By Kate Burch
Apples grown at the Maine Heritage Orchard
Apple picking, an iconic New England pastime, has been more popular than ever this year, despite pandemic restrictions and a drought that lowered apple production for most orchards. Though apples are not native to New England, the fruit has a long history in Maine.
Anthony Brackett’s orchard can be seen at #13 (upper left) on this 1690 map of Portland (Maine Historical Society)
Maine apple expert John Bunker (watch his excellent lecture hosted by Maine Historical Society from October 2020) theorizes that apples were first planted by some of the earliest European explorers to the continent. Early European colonists in New England grew apples on their farms for eating as well as for cider and animal feed. One of the earliest recorded Maine orchards is Anthony Brackett’s. Brackett had a farm and orchard in Portland near the current Deering Oaks Park. In 1689, Brackett’s orchard was the site of a major battle of the French and Indian Wars. Brackett was killed in the fighting and his farm and orchard were destroyed.
Moses Wood, a seedling variety discovered on the farm of Moses Wood of Winthrop, Maine, first exhibited in 1833 or 1834. (via The Righteous Russet on Instagram)
Apples don’t come true from seed. That means that if you plant an apple seed from a Red Delicious apple, the tree that grows won’t produce Red Delicious – it will produce a totally new variety! Maine’s farmers and orchard owners experimented with these seedling apples and apple breeding, developing many unique varieties like the Black Oxford. Apples that were no good for fresh eating might be used for cooking or cider, or to feed to the animals. It was common for most farms to have at least a few apple trees, which is why you can so often find old apple trees growing near old farmsteads in Maine. In the 19th century, the development of commercially successful varieties like McIntosh and Courtland prompted the expansion of many Maine orchards and cemented New England’s connection with apple growing.
Here are some greater Portland orchards that have been around for at least 100 years. (The oldest orchards don’t always grow the oldest varieties. If you’re interested in Maine’s heirloom varieties, check out the Maine Heirloom Apple Guide.)
Sweetser’s Apple Barrel (Cumberland)
(website)
The Sweetser family has owned and operated this orchard in Cumberland since the 1830s, and the house and farm feature in our Cumberland virtual walking tour. Samuel Robinson Sweetser married Mary Jane Pittee and moved into her family’s farmstead, and started growing apples as a mainstay crop. Several of the varieties he planted, like Rolfe, Weathy, and Northern Spy, are still grown at the orchard today. You can’t pick your own here, but they grow around 50 common and heritage varieties available at the farmstand.
Randall Orchards (Standish)
(website)
Randall Orchards was founded by Edgar Randall in 1905 and is still run by the Randalls, who live in the 1776 white farmhouse on the property. This pick-your-own orchard has more than 20 apple varieties (including many New England classics) and they press their own cider. The farm is protected by an agricultural and conservation easement, and visitors can hike the forest trails around the orchard.
Thompson’s Orchard (New Gloucester)
(website)
An apple cider donut at Thompson’s
Arthur E. and Myrtle Thompson purchased this orchard in 1906 and expanded it from 800 trees to a large commercial operation that shipped apples all the way to England. Today, they offer pick-your-own apples, including many of those important early 19th and 20th century varieties like McIntosh, Macoun, and Courtland, as well as a bakery and fresh cider.
Brackett’s Orchard (Limington)
(website)
This orchard is outside the greater Portland area, but it’s possibly the oldest continually operated orchard in Maine! Started by the Brackett Family in 1783, the 8th generation of the family now owns the orchard, which offers pick-your-own apples, pumpkins, squash, and cider.
McDougal Orchards (Springvale)
(website)
Another orchard that’s a little outside our area, but one with a long history! McDougal Orchard stands on land that was purchased by Joshua Hanson in 1779, and the land has been farmed by the family ever since. In the early 20th century Judge George Hanson started a Baldwin apple orchard. Today, McDougal grows dozens varieties, including a range of rare heirloom apples, with both pick-your-own apples, a farmstand, and a donut shack. The orchard and surrounding forest is protected by easements.