Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

blaze

(6,805 posts)
Fri Nov 29, 2019, 01:47 PM Nov 2019

Historic Colorado apples are being revived

I've lived in the Denver metro area for almost 40 years so I'm a bit embarrassed to say I had no idea that SW Colo was once very well known for it's apples.

The snip below explains why these large orchards all but vanished, but the linked article focuses, primarily, on the efforts to save and restore the numerous varieties. It's a lengthy but good read.

https://coloradosun.com/2019/11/28/colorado-heritage-apples-orchard-restoration-hard-cider/

"Blame Prohibition for some losses
All these apple-revival areas suffered from the same historical forces – weather, politics and industrialized farming – that sidelined so many varieties of apples.

The many varieties came to Colorado with pioneers who planted so many types of apples for good reason. Because different varieties ripened at different times and had different shelf lives, they yielded a year-around supply of fruit. Families could also handle the staggered harvests without having to hire outside crews.

Some of the trees were chosen to yield the spitters for hard ciders. Because they had no use other than to make booze, most fell to the axes of FBI agents during Prohibition.

Washington state played a big part in killing off the cornucopia of apple varieties in Colorado. Growers in Washington, a less challenging place weather-wise to grow apples, embraced the idea of an apple monoculture that could yield huge amounts of long shelf life fruit that could be shipped across the country by rail. Old varieties were torn out to make way for the Red Delicious which, at its height of popularity, accounted for 80% of all apples grown in the country.

That shift turned apple farming into the apple industry. Colorado tried to join that industry to compete with Washington. Crops were rejiggered to favor uniform, blemish-free globes. The Pitt’s Bitters, the Knot Heads and the Wine Kissed didn’t stand a chance. But Colorado was never able to catch up, and many orchards were ripped out to make way for more profitable crops."

5 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Historic Colorado apples are being revived (Original Post) blaze Nov 2019 OP
Interesting, thank you! Ohiogal Nov 2019 #1
The area around Loveland, CO was similarly known for cherry production, now long gone tikka Nov 2019 #2
Fascinating! GeoWilliam750 Nov 2019 #3
I want a Pitt's Bitters apple. Grasswire2 Dec 2019 #4
There are still some locks Dec 2019 #5

Grasswire2

(13,684 posts)
4. I want a Pitt's Bitters apple.
Sun Dec 1, 2019, 02:21 PM
Dec 2019

There is quite an effort to find old forgotten apple trees in Oregon. I can't find the article about it, but here is one about five varieties that are recovered.

https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2018/03/5_types_of_apples_once_thought.html

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Colorado»Historic Colorado apples ...