The Preservation Orchard: Arbor Day Farm's Legacy

Heirloom Apple from Arbor Day Farm:
Claygate Pearmain

We’re all familiar with the apples readily available in the supermarket and at local orchards this time of year: red delicious, gala, fuji, jonathon. But what about the lesser-known varieties that have — for one reason or another — fallen out of the spotlight?

The Preservation Orchard at Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City, Nebraska, is full of these obscure apple varieties — 30 varieties, to be precise — some of them dating as far back as the 1500s. Some have interesting back stories that rival their appearance and flavor, while others just simply fell out of favor. Unlike today’s common apple varieties, which are bred for beauty, these vintage apples have unique skins and flesh and a short window of ripeness. And the heirloom apple trees themselves often have not survived the gradual changes in climate where they once thrived.

Heirloom Apple from Arbor Day Farm: Arkansas Black.

Not only is this orchard at Arbor Day Farm focused on preserving the unique apples of yesteryear, it is also a living record of some of the finest known apples and a genetic repository that may one day help create varieties well-suited to a changing climate. The Preservation Orchard is one of just a handful of orchards in the United States where these rare heirloom apple varieties can still be found.

Also Read: Tips for Starting a Backyard Orchard

Get a taste of the past

A visit to Arbor Day Farm in the fall — when a plethora of apple varieties are ripe and ready for picking — offers visitors the rare opportunity to taste the wonderful flavor of some of these old varieties. Heirloom apple tasting is a huge hit with visitors on fall weekends, as Nature Interpreters first show-and-tell about the Preservation Orchard itself then slice and serve the rare fruits of its branches.

A few antique apple varieties worth noting:

• Almata: Red to the core and not much more. This apple with reddish flesh has an interesting look but is not particularly flavorful.
• Claygate Pearmain: Common in Victorian-era gardens, this heirloom apple has a nutty aroma and a potato-like appearance.
• Kandil Sinap: Tall and cylindrical, this vintage apple originated in Turkey in the early 1800s. It is crisp and juicy with a sweet and sour flavor.
• Arkansas Black - A medium-sized apple from the 1840s. Glossy, dark red skin almost turns black when stored.

This apple season, be sure to visit Arbor Day Farm and tour the Preservation Orchard for a unique look at — and perhaps even a taste of — the apples of yesteryear.