An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away!
If the old saying is true, Kay Wolf is pretty sure her husband, Randy, should live to be 300 years old! Randy’s love of apples has grown into a passion that he and Kay share through their Dayton Avenue Orchard, located just outside Adrian.
Randy and Kay acquired the orchard 16 years ago, and since then, they have gained a wealth of knowledge and experience about growing apples. Apples can be a particularly sensitive fruit, vulnerable to weather events, insects, and animals all of which can affect their taste, texture, and appearance. It can also take seven to eight years for an apple tree to produce fruit.
Today, Dayton Avenue Orchard is home to approximately 900 trees and produces around 40,000 pounds of apples each year.
During a recent visit, Randy spoke to young professionals about the fascinating process of developing and growing different varieties of apples. Many popular varieties have their roots at the University of Minnesota. One of the most well-known, the Honeycrisp, took approximately 35 years to go from development to the consumer.
Another fascinating part of apple production takes place every May, when the Wolf's hire a beekeeper to bring six hives of bees to the orchard. With approximately 30,000 bees in each hive, these busy pollinators play an essential role in producing a successful apple crop. The bees work in an organized formation, with each hive contributing to the pollination of the orchard.
Randy’s passion for sharing the orchard with others also has a special connection to his family. When Randy’s father was a resident at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne, he wanted to create an opportunity for residents to visit the orchard. He built a handicapped-accessible trailer that allowed residents to comfortably ride through the orchard and enjoy the experience firsthand.
Today, Randy and Kay continue that tradition by welcoming senior citizens, preschool students, and other community members to the orchard. They enjoy sharing not only their apples, but also their knowledge and love of agriculture with visitors of all ages.
If you’re looking for a delicious, locally grown apple, you can find Dayton Avenue Orchard at the Luverne Farmers Market on Thursdays and the Brandon Farmers Market on Saturdays. Students in several area school districts are also enjoying Dayton Avenue Orchard apples with their school lunches!
Thank you, Randy and Kay, for a beautiful morning at the orchard and for sharing your passion, knowledge, and hospitality with our community.
