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Our farm orchard's goal is to identify, find and grow varieties of Apples that were grown in Southeastern PA, Southern New Jersey and Delaware prior to the late 1800's with many dating from the 1700's. To date we have found and are growing over 150 varieties and the collection will increase as more are found.
It has been said that in the mid 19th century there were over 10,000 varieties of Apples in the US. Unfortunately, with mass production, the reduction of family farms, and the commercialization of food crops many varieties have been lost. #1 FARM is trying to preserve Apples that were enjoyed by the folks who settled our country, wrote our Constitution, and helped to establish our nation. You may have never heard of many of the listed varieties: we hadn't.
Our references cover almost a 200 year period. We hope that our tastebuds agree with theirs. We have also found that many varieties have several different names but we've tried to give you the most commonly used one. If you remember an even different variety we may be able to identify it and find it for you.
Apples were a multi-purpose crop and in some parts of the country were essential in establishing a families' claim to their new homes and farms since certain early land laws required that permanent crops be grown on a farmstead to establish title. Apples were grown for eating, cooking, drinking and livestock feed.
According to a number of sources there were no native Apples in the US with the exception of one crab apple variety-Malus coronaria. All apples were brought to this country by settlers who carried seeds with them and then, as apples do not reproduce true to seed, grafted cuttings of good varieties onto rootstocks with desirable traits to perpetuate and enhance the strains.
As families moved across our country, if they were farmers, they took with them seeds to replicate their crops and trees.
#1 FARM's offerings are some of those remembered varieties.
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History
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