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WILKES-BARRE — The apple plays a prominent role in legend and history. It’s the forbidden fruit of Eden and a bite of one put Snow White to sleep. The sweet, juicy apple even keeps the doctor away. With all its attributes, who can we thank for the apple? Johnny Appleseed — the man who gave America her apples.
On March 11, people can celebrate the American folk hero, as it’s Johnny Appleseed Day. The story of Mr. Appleseed is a popular folk tale based on John Chapman, a man who planted apple trees during his journey across the country. With every apple tree he planted, the roots of his legend grew deeper.
Once a nurseryman, Chapman began planting apple trees in western New York and Pennsylvania. His westward journey brought him to the Midwest where he continued planting in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. According to legend, Johnny Appleseed led a simple life, content with only the essentials. He rarely accepted money and if he did get any, he often donated it to the needy.
Northeastern Pennsylvania is home to Heller’s Orchard in Wapwallopen and Brace’s Orchard in Dallas. Both are family owned and operated and dedicated to helping fulfill Johnny’s mission of bringing apples to the community.
Brace’s Orchard, established in 1828, is still run by the Brace family, including, Larry Brace and his son, Paul. Paul’s son, Logan, is an eighth generation apple farmer.
“We plant 1,000 trees a year but plan the trees three years in advance,” Paul Brace said. “You have to order trees two years in advance and then it takes a year for it to produce fruit.”
Heller’s Orchard was founded by Hoyt E. Heller in 1919. He learned the how to farm apples and saw such success in his business that he opened a retail store in Wapwallopen, which is still in business.
Heller’s grandson, Greg, now runs the farm. Ruth, Hoyt Heller’s daughter-in-law, manages the retail store and is the friendly face to customers for the past 40 years.
“We are now a 50-acre farm with three generations of fruit growers,” Greg Heller said. “My grandfather planted the trees and we have continued to be family run.”
The simplicity of planting patches of apple seeds, as Johnny once did, is no more. Now, there are thousands of different varieties of apple trees.
“We will be the first orchard on the East Coast to have the Evercrisp apple,” Brace said. “It is a combination of the Honey Crisp and Fuji apple. We ordered the trees six years ago and they will finally be in the ground this year and sold in the next three years.”
Brace’s and Heller’s longevity reflects their products and community support.
“Small farms such as ours constantly need the support of the customer,” Brace said. “People need to buy straight from the farm and cut out the middle man. That is the only way family farms are going to make it and keep the generations going.”