The local eco-apple – A Northeast Powerhouse!

– from Ripe foodblog (October 1):

A little (regional) apple history. The colonists who settled in Massachusetts in the 17th century were most likely the first ones to grow apple trees in New England. Records from the Massachusetts Bay Colony indicate apples being grown as early as 1625 and farmers from all over the region, including New Hampshire, soon started planting orchards. Orchards were often planted as soon as a new farm was cleared since the fruit was used to make cider, the most common drink of colonial times (well water was generally thought to be unsafe). A farmer might make 20 – 50 barrels of cider each autumn and the whole family drank hard cider all year round. 

from curator: Organic apple production isn’t too practical in the Northeast, but other SAFE methods are…  Integrated Pest Management (IPM) most noticeably. The local certification seal for IPM is “eco-apples” – additional details:  

• eco-apples:  http://www.ipminstitute.org/ecoapple.htm
• IPM:  Integrated Pest Management video overivew