The Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project’s mission of reviving the local apple economy just got a financial boost.
The nonprofit MORP was recently awarded two grants totaling $120,000 for orchard-related projects.
The Colorado Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Program awarded MORP an $86,587 grant to increase availability of heritage apples through orchard restoration, variety trials and education.
MORP founder Jude Schuenemeyer said the money will help support ongoing efforts to identify and develop the most marketable heritage apple varieties. They will use Colorado State University agriculture experiment stations at Yellow Jacket and Rogers Mesa, near Delta, to conduct growing trials.
“Once we are in the CSU system, then our heritage varieties get exposure to other orchards and wholesalers who are interested in buying from our area,” he said.
The trials are focusing on three different varieties, including those historic to Colorado but have not been seen in generations, cider specific varieties and seedlings.
The cider industry is growing, and this area could become a viable market for cider-specific apples. Last year, a successful pilot project using a mobile industrial presser produced 2,200 gallons of apple juice and attracted buyers from Front Range cideries. Grant funds will also go toward nursery operations, the School to Farm program, and grafting classes.
History Colorado awarded MORP with a $34,000 education grant to develop instructional curriculum on state orchard history, heritage apples and different strategies of orchard development.
“It will be an off-the shelf instructional package with slideshows available for schools, 4-H, extension offices, anyone interested in orchard education,” Schuenemeyer said. “We are reminding people about our once-thriving fruit economy, and how we’re making progress to bring it back.”
Colorado History staff recently toured the area to learn about local orchards and the effort to bring back the fruit economy that thrived in this area 100 years ago.
jmimiaga@the-journal.com