The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association’s Great Maine Apple Day, a celebration of the history, flavor and tradition of Maine apples, is set for noon-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15, at MOFGA’s Common Ground Education Center in Unity.
This annual event celebrates the fall harvest with opportunities to connect with fruit enthusiasts, learn about apples and feast on an array of heritage apples. Admission is by optional donation at the door, and all ages are welcome, according to a news release from the association.
Activities include the following:
• An apple tasting including rare and historic varieties.
• Apple and pear identification experts will help identify mystery apples. Participants can bring a sample or two of apples or pears, along with any information, and MOFGA’s team will help solve the mystery.
• Pressing apples for cider.
• Informational tables and displays all about apples and other fall fruits — such as information about grafting, apple shapes, hardy kiwis, pears and fruit exploring.
• An apple display featuring approximately 200 varieties of apples to help showcase the diversity of this fruit.
• Opportunities to create art using apples as stamps, as well as other children’s activities.
• An autumn stroll through MOFGA’s demonstration gardens and orchards, including MOFGA’s Maine Heritage Orchard, a 10-acre preservation and educational orchard featuring over 360 heirloom varieties.
• A cider tasting will be held from 3-4 p.m. Guests 21 and older can drink hard ciders donated by local cideries such as Rocky Ground Cider and Absolem Cider, with a tasting guided by Sean Turley.
There will also be vendors. Participants can have afternoon snacks or bring home some fresh, organic apples and other produce. There are also baked goods from B&T Bakery, fresh apples from 5 Star Orchard, cider from Pressed for Cider, apples and other produce from North Branch Farm, cheese from Balfour Farm; and view tools and other autumn essentials from Fedco.
There will be opportunities to learn from various talks and demonstrations, including a demonstration on preserving fall fruit with Jenn Legnini of Turtle Rock Farm in Union; tours of the demonstration orchards at MOFGA’s Common Ground Education Center; a talk with Glen Koehler, from the Pest Management Unit at University of Maine Cooperative Extension, who will share observations on ripening dates and other observations from the season; and a talk from Edgar Evenkeel titled, “Pomology Pathology.”
For more information visit mofga.org.
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