Summer Apple and Peach Harvest

Date: July 23, 2012
Contact: Visitor Center, [phone]

The fruit harvest continues at Capitol Reef National Park's historic orchards. All fruit is available for $1.00 per pound.

Red Astrachan and Yellow Transparent summer apples are still available in the Johnson Orchard, located on the Scenic Drive next to the picnic area. Beginning Thursday, July 26, Ginger gold apples will also be ready for harvest in the Johnson Orchard, which is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm while fruit is available.

On Tuesday, July 31, the Mott orchard opens for harvest of Ginger Gold apples. The Mott Orchard, just south of the visitor center on the Scenic Drive, will be open for harvest during daylight hours.

Also on Tuesday, July 31, the Krueger Orchard opens for harvest of Rosa Peaches. The Krueger Orchard, located east of the visitor center on Highway 24, will be open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm while peaches are available.

Information is recorded on the Capitol Reef Fruit Hotline as fruit ripens, specific harvest start dates are determined, or orchards close. The fruit hotline may be reached by calling [phone]. Once the park number connects, press one for general information and, at the voice prompt for the orchard hotline, press five.

Climbing fruit trees is not permitted in the park. The National Park Service provides special fruit picking ladders. Use care when picking fruit and carefully read and follow posted instructions on fruit picking and ladder use.

Capitol Reef National Park uses the receipts from fruit sales to defray the cost of maintaining the orchards. The historic Fruita orchards are among the largest in the National Park System and were established beginning in the 1880s by pioneer residents of Fruita.