Radicle Apple

Saxtons River, Vermont was traditionally pasture land for sheep and cows. An orchard was planted on the land that is Radicle Apple in the early 1900s and purchased by the family of the current stewards in 1961 shortly after they purchased the farm buildings to use as a respite from city life. Since then, the orchards have expanded and contracted. They have been tended by lifelong farmers as well as myriad weekend visitors who came from New York City to refill their bellies with farm bounty and refuel their souls by the labor they offered. After 2000, when the price of apples fell to a historical low, the business could not survive and most of the orchards were abandoned or cut down to stumps. The remaining orchards continued operation while struggling with the plight of small farmers everywhere—never having the scale to thrive or the budget to grow. Twenty years later, the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the original purchasers began to reimagine the land and, with a renewed sense of commitment, created Radicle Apple.
Working in tandem with the Vermont Foodbank, Radicle Apple is committed to understanding our role in a sustainable ecosystem that begins with promoting a healthy and thriving orchard and ends with fresh fruit, packed with care and delivered into the hands of Vermont’s food insecure population.
Funding in the forms of grants, donations, and earned income through added-value products will support the operations of the orchard and the creation of a vibrant ecosystem.