How to Buy a Healthy Apple Orchard
Apple orchards are an important part of the agricultural economy in states like Washington and New York. But joining that economy is a big step. Before you buy an apple orchard, there are many factors you need to consider: variety, cost efficiency, maintenance and tree growth. Managing and maintaining an apple orchard is a challenging task, so think carefully about your options before you buy.
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Instructions
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Look for any repairs that the orchard needs. Consider your financial situation before purchasing an orchard that needs lots of renovations. Any fix that requires you to hire laborers for a long time early on isn't worthwhile. You don't want to spend all your money before your first harvest has had a chance to make any returns.
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Check out the trees. You want the trees to be between 3 and 15 years old. Trees that are very old are often antiquated varieties and harder to take care of. Older trees that haven't been properly pruned, fertilized and watered over the years will yield little fruit.
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Ask about the varieties in the orchard. Newer varieties sell better in the market than older varieties. Also, varieties that are so popular they are available everywhere can be difficult to profit from. Keep this in mind unless the orchard grows the absolute best of a certain variety and the high quality generates a great amount of business.
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Inspect the site. Your orchard needs to have access to water. Irrigation is important, and irrigation systems can be pricey to install. Also ask about disease and look for signs of disease or pests.
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Examine the fruit size and color. For red varieties, the redder the apple, the better quality. Returns tend to be higher for fruits labeled "Washington Extra Fancy Fruit." Also consider the size of the apples. Approximately 80 to 88 apples should fit into a 44 lb. box. Look for an orchard with fruit size between 80 and 125.
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