Heritage Apple Corps of Central Oregon:About

From Heritage Apple Corps

Mission

The Heritage Apple Corps is a grassroots collaborative initiative dedicated to revitalizing, protecting, and maintaining Central Oregon's historic heritage fruit orchards. Through volunteer efforts and community engagement, we preserve living connections to the region's agricultural past and genetic diversity for future generations.

Historical Background

The heritage orchards we preserve today trace their roots to the pioneering homesteaders of the 1880s. The Enoch Cyrus orchard, located in the Crooked River National Grassland near Culver, is over 120 years old and represents one of the most significant surviving examples of early Central Oregon agriculture. Similarly, the McCoin orchards near Gray Butte date to 1886, when Julius and Sarah McCoin established their homestead and planted apple saplings as symbols of hope and resilience in the high desert.

These orchards are more than just old trees—they are a unique blend of natural heritage, cultural memory, and ecological resilience. As retired Forest Service silviculturist Duane Ecker noted: "If we lose them, we have lost the genetic source of these varieties."

Preservation Work

Since 2023, the Heritage Apple Corps has undertaken comprehensive preservation efforts:

  • Brush clearing and orchard maintenance - Regular volunteer workdays to restore historic sites
  • DNA analysis and variety identification - Partnership with the U.S. Forest Service to identify apple varieties through genetic testing
  • Documentation - Complete inventory of trees including measurements, condition assessments, and photographic records
  • Conservation arboretum - Establishment of a preservation collection at Clarno to safeguard heritage genetics
  • Community engagement - Educational workshops, public events, and collaboration with descendant families

Unique Genetic Heritage

Our DNA testing program has revealed extraordinary discoveries. While many trees have been identified as historic varieties like Yellow Transparent, Blue Pearmain, Northern Spy, and Red Astrachan, genetic analysis has also identified trees with no match to any known named variety. These unique varieties may be seedlings or lost cultivars existing nowhere else on Earth—irreplaceable genetic resources that survived over a century in the harsh Central Oregon climate.

Leadership & Partnerships

The Heritage Apple Corps was founded by Carolyn "CJ" Johnson, co-founder of the grassroots collaborative In Cahoots. Key partners and collaborators include:

  • Duane Ecker - Retired Forest Service silviculturist who discovered and documented the historic trees
  • Maddy Shriver - Forest Service botanist
  • U.S. Forest Service - Ochoco, Deschutes, and Crooked River National Forests
  • The School of Ranch - Educational partnership and community outreach
  • Discover Your Forest - Primary sponsor and financial supporter
  • Descendant families - Direct connections to the original homesteaders

Our Goals

  • Protect Living History - Revive and maintain historic orchards as symbols of regional resilience
  • Build Sustainable Stewardship - Train community members to lead long-term preservation efforts
  • Drive Community Support - Foster connections to heritage orchards through education and events
  • Preserve Genetic Diversity - Safeguard rare and unique varieties for future generations

See Also

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