The Apple Hunter 🍏
Apples, apples, apples!
Tom Brown is the Indiana Jones of apple hunters, tracking down rare varieties lost to the mists of time. ⏳
Armed with ancient seed catalogs 📜, a gift for gab, and a handful of clues , the retired chemical engineer drives thousands of miles a year 🚗 to find these forgotten treasures.
His quest is relentless and productive. Since 1998, he's tracked down over 1200 heirloom apple varieties. 🍎
It’s important and just a fraction of the tens of thousands that once graced America, when apples were grown for everything: drying , frying 🍳, baking, drinking, snacking, livestock feed 🐄, and more.
With the rise of supermarkets 🛒, old varieties gave way to newer ones which kept longer and shipped better.
Today, only eleven apple varieties on average are found in 90% of grocery stores 🍏.
But Tom's discoveries may help change that. 🌱
There’s now a renaissance of craft cider-making 🍻 and chefs are endlessly inspired by the many new, yet old, flavors, colors 🎨, and textures.
Tom tends his treasures in his own orchard 🌳, selling saplings 🌱 to the public and sharing them with historical organizations.
Every discovery is precious, but finding more is a race against time ⏰.
But that won't deter Tom from his passion, as the thrill of the apple hunt spurs him onward. 🔎
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