Welcome to the Ranson Gardens
Micro-Orchard!
This orchard was planted to demonstrate the diversity of the apple varieties available and to pay homage to the role that apple orchards have played in the history of the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The apple trees in the orchard are all native cultivars from Allendale Nursery in Pocahontas County, WV.
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DID YOU KNOW
APPLE TREES ARE A MEMBER OF THE ROSE FAMILY AND ARE NOT NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA. THEY WERE BROUGHT HERE BY COLONISTS FROM EUROPE IN THE 1600’s. THEY QUICKLY MADE THEIR WAY TO WHAT IS NOW WEST VIRGINIA.
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Apples have been present in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia since they were first introduced to America. In the early 1700’s, when West Virginia was still part of Virginia, landlords commonly required tenants to plant apple or peach trees as part of their lease agreements This included George Washington, who owned extensive land holdings in the area and leased them to farmers.
DID YOU KNOW the Golden Delicious cultivar is a native of West Virginia? The original tree was from J.M. Mullins farm in Clay County, WV and was discovered in 1891. It is believed that the Golden Delicious is a cross between a Grimes Golden and Golden Reinette apples. Mullins sold the tree and propagation rights to Stark Brothers Nurseries for $5000.
Commercial apple production in Jefferson County, WV is credited to D.W. Border who, in 1876, planted 40 acres of winter and summer apples in Kearneysville, WV. Apple production peaked in West Virginia in 1931 at 31 million bushels, but for a variety of reasons production has been declining ever since. By 2016 West Virginia produced roughly two million bushels and by 2023 the total was down to 1.2 million bushels.
Time passes and things change. Agriculture and commercial apple production is now a dying industry in Jefferson County. We invite you to take a moment to think about what once was and appreciate simple things like apples. And, if there are any on our trees, please feel free to pick one!
