Meet a Farmer: Hackett's Orchard & Hall's Orchards

The days are getting shorter and the nights colder as we settle into fall. But sunny skies herald one of the most special seasons in the Champlain Islands: apple season! Hall’s Orchard, Hackett’s Orchard, and Allenholm Farm are open for business, and we checked in with Ron Hackett and Allen Hall to see what is happening on their farms this year.

Ron & Celia Hackett know the apple business and have a gift for looking to the future. They’ve navigated changing markets and customer preferences over their 50+ years at the orchard, and are now adapting for a changing climate. Through it all, they’ve learned that it’s best to make changes before they’re needed. Apple trees are long-lived, and take years to mature before bearing fruit. While they can’t see the future, Ron and Celia do stay on top of market trends and make decisions early. Ron gives an example: as soon as they saw that the Honeycrisp apple was beginning to gain popularity, they planted a block of the new variety. Years later the Honeycrisp is a favorite of many eaters, and Ron and Celia are able to meet the local demand.

This skill in adapting to changes is perhaps why Ron and Celia have met the challenges of selling apples during a pandemic without a hitch. From navigating new procedures and paperwork for hiring to creating a safe space for customers, they are ready for apple season!

While Pick-Your-Own at Hackett’s is done for the season, their farm store is fully stocked and open daily. Please wear a face mask and follow all the Vermont state guidelines for safety. Alongside fresh apples, offerings include cider donuts, fresh-pressed cider, pumpkins, decorative gourds, mums, and more!

You can learn more about Hackett’s Orchard on the NW Vermont Grown Guide to Agriculture: www.northwestvermontgrown.com/business/hacketts-orchard

At the northern end of the county, in Isle la Motte, Allen Hall of Hall’s Orchard is weathering the same challenges. The farm has been in the Hall family since the late 1700’s, and seen many changes over the centuries. But the pandemic has been one of the biggest challenges that Allen has faced during his stewardship of the orchard. The closure of the Canada/Vermont border has made the biggest difference to his orchard, which depends on visitors from the province of Quebec. Allen estimates that Canadians account for about 90% of his retail sales in a normal year, but 0% this year. He is hoping that locals and folks from across Vermont make the trip to Isle la Motte this year.

Hall’s Orchard is open and offering pick-your-own through mid-late October, Like Hackett’s, they have a number of COVID-19 related safety rules for visitors. Besides a wide variety of apples that includes Honeycrisp, Empire, Macintosh, and Cortland, the farmstand has sweet pears, products from neighboring farms like honey, pickles, and maple syrup. Cider is not available at the moment, but will be again soon.

You can learn more about Hall’s Orchard on the NW Vermont Grown Guide to Agriculture: www.northwestvermontgrown.com/business/halls-orchard