Two Brother’s Orchard
Viroqua, WI | 4 miles
John Armbruster, the orchardist at Two Brothers Orchard, bought a five-acre farmstead in Vernon County in 1998. Then a teacher and coach at North Crawford High School, John wanted to find a way to be on his property in the summer months while earning extra income. When he got his start, he knew almost nothing about apples. So he, a lifelong learner, sought out the advice of local experts. After many conversations with Bob Johnson at Turkey Ridge Orchard and Allen Teach at Sunrise Orchards, he planted the first stand of 60 apple trees on his homestead. While still quite small, the orchard has grown to 175 trees that supply the co-op with three varieties of certified organic apples.
The Viroqua Food Co+op is John's main customer. John says, “I take care of the co-op first. They’ve been a great partner to me.” As a smaller grower, John appreciates the co-op's willingness to work with him. Apples are tricky; they have a long growing season, and anything can happen. You can have a late frost that destroys the blossoms or a beautiful crop that gets wiped out by one hailstorm. Last year, with the drought, the trees were so thirsty that when it finally rained in late August, they took up water so quickly that the apples burst. John communicates with the co-op's produce manager, Linda, every step of the way. The co-op prioritizes John’s local apples because they are high quality, grown nearby, and certified organic.
Two Brothers Orchard features neat, alternating rows of Liberty, Cortland, and Honeycrisp apples. Since these apples need to cross-pollinate, it's crucial to plant different varieties close together to enhance pollination effectiveness. Nearby, Black-Eyed Susans and clumps of wildflowers are intentionally planted to attract beneficial insects such as honeybees.
Conventional apple growers often use chemical applications to conquer or suppress diseases and pests that can decimate a crop. Organic growers like John adopt a more labor-intensive approach that harmonizes with nature. The orchard is meticulously mowed, and the base of each tree is kept clear of grass and weeds. Pest traps are strategically placed throughout the trees to monitor activity. The traps help identify the specific pests present, allowing for targeted treatments with organic approved product, when necessary. After fruiting, trees are sprayed with kaolin clay, which controls pests without toxicity. The coating doesn't leave a persistent residue like chemical insecticides do and because of this it must be reapplied after each rain. After harvest, apples are hand-washed and polished before being delivered to the co-op.
John has recently retired from teaching and is experimenting and diversifying with a few new crops including cherries, elderberries, raspberries and aronia berries. We hope to see the “fruits” of his labor at the co-op real soon.