Apples and grapes available at Community Orchard

It's been a wonderful harvest season at the Community Orchard, and there is still fruit left to be enjoyed. Now that scheduled field trips and fruit donations have happened, it's time to help get the orchard picked clean before winter! Please come pick some fruit for your family or neighbors. There are ripe apples (especially in the furthest back two rows and the side rows) and grapes along the back fence (don't be shy about looking behind the leaves on the grapevines- lots of clusters are hiding!). 

Good to know if you plan to come pick:

• The Community Orchard is on the corner of 5th Ave W and the Gunflint Trail in Grand Marais


• Come anytime dawn to dusk


• Make sure to close and latch the gate behind you to help us keep deer out of the orchard


• Dropped/damaged apples can be collected in the wheelbarrow- they are going to local pig farmers


• There is a map at the entrance showing the varieties in the orchard. The majority of the remaining apples are honeycrisp.


• The grapes are delicious but have lots of seeds- good for jelly or juice.

• The Community Orchard is an educational space for youth and adults to learn about growing fruit in our cold climate. 


• The orchard is maintained by volunteers- anyone is welcome to join in. To get on the email list for volunteer events and work days, contact Sarah at the Extension office at swaddle@umn.edu. 


• Fruit from the orchard is donated locally- this summer and fall fruit was picked by and/or shared with: Grand Marais Food Shelf, The Hub, YMCA Summer Kids Camp, Sawtooth Preschool, Sawtooth Elementary, Great Expectations School, Northwoods Food Project Harvest Festival, Grand Marais Apple Festival, Grand Portage Fall Feast, and more!