The Apple Farm

In 1974, fresh out of college, Marilyn and Steve Meyerhans moved to the country and bought a small apple orchard and farm in Fairfield, Maine. Over thirty years later, they are still “back-on-the-land” as dedicated as ever to reforming the way food is grown in this country.

By combining the most sustainable farming techniques with creative local marketing, the Meyerhans have managed to prosper in an era where many small farms have gone out of business. They’ve weathered plenty of challenges: late frosts, hailstorms, and the ups and downs of the apple market.

Growing delicious and healthful apples for you is their passion. Today they have 100 acres of apples, including 38 of the best heirloom and modern apple varieties along with pears, plums and vegetables. 12 acres of their apples are certified organic, and Steve sees research as key to finding better methods of organic pest control for the northeast. In the rest of the orchards, they use advanced IPM practices certified under Red Tomato’s Eco Apple™ program. Their concern is to use methods that are safer not only for the orchard and for consumers, but also for the farm’s workers.