Dating back to the 1700s, the Pennsylvania apple industry is known for its heritage and multi-generational farms. In fact, many of the growers in the state are working on sixth-, seventh- and even eighth-generation orchards.
Karin Rodriguez, executive director of the Pennsylvania Apple Marketing Program (PAMP), explains that because of the region’s long history, it is host to many heirlooms. “Many of our farmers have continued to grow what’s been passed down from their ancestors, but because we have such a diverse climate and ideal soil conditions, they’ve also expanded their varieties.”
In fact, Pennsylvania apple growers produce more than 150 apple varieties and a total of about 11 million bushels, or 440 million pounds, each year.
“With so many options, we get a lot of calls from consumers asking for specific varieties, or wanting to know what varieties are grown locally,” says Rodriguez. “So we created a way for Pennsylvanians to easily connect with their local apple providers through our website.”
The website, www.pennsylvaniaapples.org, features a custom search function and database, allowing consumers to access the bounty of Pennsylvania’s orchards in just a few simple clicks. It’s apple picking made even easier!
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Tags: heirlooms, pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Apple Marketing Program, U.S. Apple Association
