Montana Heritage Apple Trees available across the state
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News from the Western Agricultural Research Center
MONTANA — With warmer days in the forecast, our plants are waking up to the sunshine and soaking up the water left by the long winter we encountered this year. Apple blossoms are imminent at the Western Agricultural Research Center (WARC), along with all of the early flowering fruit trees, flowers and shrubs.
Growing apples in the Bitterroot Valley has a long history starting with Fathers Ravalli and Desmet who reportedly planted Montana’s first apple trees in the state in the late 1840s, according to Mary Williams, consulting historian for Montana Heritage Apple Program. Many of these early trees did not survive due to winter kill. According to William’s research, “Fruit Pioneer” W.B. Harlan reported “Most of these early trees died, only a few lived to bear fruit and the planters had to hear lots of ‘I told you so.’”
The Montana Heritage Apple Program was founded by Toby Day and Brent Sarchet to identify and preserve of heirloom apple varieties that tell a story of the history of fruit grown successfully in Montana. WARC propagates these trees from these varieties and distributes them for sale at nurseries across the state. The nurseries carrying these heritage apple trees are Moeller’s Nursery in Corvallis, Ace Fancy Plants in Tremper’s Plaza in Missoula, Tizer Gardens in Jefferson City, Canyon Creek Nursery near Billings, Delaney’s Landscape Center in Polson, and Gardenwerks in Helena.
Because of their unique qualities, heritage apple trees can be resilient and well-suited for dessert or cider apple production. Identification of a heritage apple tree, registration on the heritage apple orchard map and assistance with resources for preserving and managing an orchard are also part of the program.
Fruit production options have expanded beyond apples over these many years and WARC has been instrumental in conducting research on fruit, vegetables, grains, pulses, and agricultural management practices for over 116 years. To continue this important work, the state legislature approved $1.2 million to build a new laboratory, education, and office building in 2021 and tasked WARC with raising $300,000 in matching funds.
“We work for fruit and vegetable growers across the state to make their farms more profitable and sustainable. This long-overdue investment in our research facilities will ensure that WARC can continue to support food production in the state for generations to come,” said Zach Miller, superintendent at WARC.
WARC is over 80% of the way and to support their work, donations can be made online, https://www.msuaf.org/give-warc. Checks can be made out to MSU Alumni Foundation and write 93627 – Western Ag Research Center Improvements in the notes of the check. The mailing address is MSU Alumni Foundation, PO Box 172750, Bozeman, MT 59717.
