For Wilson’s Orchard’s Paul Rasch, apples have always been a way of life. He grew up in the commercial apple business and Michigan, and today owns the Solon, Iowa orchard with his wife, Sara Goering. Rasch said the appeal of growing apples comes from their versatility and health benefits, but also from the power of growing food independently.
“Our overriding mission is to help revive and restore local agriculture,” Rasch said. “We believe very strongly that agriculture in the U.S. needs to be returned to its local roots.”
Visitors to the orchard will find a variety of crops, including berries, sweet corn and pumpkins, as well as “value-added ” products like baked goods and ciders for sale in the orchard’s store, cidery and restaurant. The operation has plans to expand in future as well, growing more fruits and veggies and using them to make other delicious products.
The main attraction, however, may be the large apple orchard. Whether customers pick the fruit themselves or not, Rash says locally grown apples have several advantages, primarily that they can be picked at peak ripeness and flavor.
The orchard provides a large amount of apples to Iowa City schools each fall as well, providing students with the most flavorful, highest-quality version of the fruit most commonly associated with education.
The commercially grown apples found at typical grocery stores, on the other hand, have to be picked before they are fully ripe so that they will last as they are shipped to stores across the world. Wilson’s, on the other hand, can grow tastier varieties that don’t have such long shelf lives because the fruit will be sold and eaten very soon after harvest.
Additionally, locally grown apples provide a family-friendly opportunity to get outside and enjoy a delicious, healthy snack.
“Eating apples shouldn’t be work,” Rasch said. “The whole experience should be highly, highly enjoyable.”
This project has been funded at least in part with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the view of policies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organization imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.