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Apples of our Ancestors

Apples have a rich history in the USA, and especially in the appalachian mountains.  In the not so distant past it was common for every family and farm to have an orchard of a few trees, which provided an important food-source from June into early Winter.  Usually these small orchards would have a variety of apples, most of which you may have never heard of before.  The modern world prioritizes storage ability and appearance of apples which is all good and well, but the result is that most of the world only knows a handful of the thousands of varieties of apples that have or do exist.  

The USA and specifically the appalachian mountain region has produced some of the greatest apples in the world, though most are now forgotten.  At Blossom Ridge Orchard we take pride in the fact that we have over 25 heirloom varieties!  We will only have a very limited supply of these apples, but we are proud to continue the tradition of these varieties and teach others about the rich history of apples in our region!

Heirloom Varieties (Limited Availability 2026)

  • Kinnaird's Choice

  • Blacktwig (Mammoth)  (One of Ben's Favorites!)

  • Carolina Red June

  • Summer Banana  (One of Rebecca's favorites!)

  • Hewe's (Virginia) Crab

  • American Golden Russet

  • Wolf River  (One of Maxine's favorites)

  • Virginia Beauty

  • Roxbury Russet  (Oldest American Variety ~1650)

  • Old Fashioned Winesap

  • Ashmead Kernal

  • Horse Apple

  • Swiss Limbertwig

  • Cox Orange Pippin

  • Aunt Rachel

  • Joseph Apple

  • Newtown (Albemarle) Pippin  (One of George Washington's Favorites!)

  • Arkansas Black

  • Bevan's Favorite

  • York

  • Harrison Cider

  • Red Sheepnose  (One of Don's Favorites!)

  • Esopus Spitzenberg  (One of Thomas Jefferson's Favorites!)

  • Jonathan

  • Yellow Bellflower
     

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Apple Harvest

Details

4260 New Leicester Hwy.

Leicester, NC 28748

blossomridgeorchard@gmail.com

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WARNING

Under North Carolina law, there is no liability for an injury to or death of a participant in an agritourism activity conducted at this agritourism location if such injury or death results from the inherent risks of the agritourism activity. Inherent risks of agritourism activities include, among others, risks of injury inherent to land, equipment, and animals, as well as the potential for you to act in a negligent manner that may contribute to your injury or death. You are assuming the risk of participating in this agritourism activity.

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