Colorado’s Fruit Growing History: Historic Context of Orchards tells the story of Colorado’s historic orchards and orchard history including varieties of fruit grown, people that grew the orchards and orchard industry, and the locations of historic orchard districts in Colorado. The purpose of this context is to disseminate information about historically important orchards and fruit trees of Colorado, with a specific focus on apples and the formative history of Colorado’s fruit growing industry.
This is the story of people and place, and the fruit that they grew. It is intended to serve as a guide and a tool. It should also remind us that Colorado can grow some of the highest quality fruit on earth, and that in preserving this past we can grow a sustainable future. However, before we move forward in remembering these parts of the past we are most proud of, it is essential that we remember and acknowledge those that we are not.
Most importantly, we cannot talk about our Anglo pioneering past without recognizing the devastating impact on Indigenous peoples. Before the Spanish came into southern Colorado, and the Anglo Europeans crossed the plains, this land was inhabited by Native Americans for generations. Specifically, Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project acknowledges and apologizes for the fact that not all that long ago, Colorado’s early fruit growers boasted about what we today clearly call genocide – in, for example, varying proud statements such as:
“As aptly said by Dr. Shaw, the energetic fruit-growers of these valley’s began planting fruit trees in the fresh tracks of the receding Utes…”
This is just one example of many that shows how even our orchard history cannot be disconnected from the full truth of our past.
This project was paid for in part by a History Colorado, State Historical Fund grant. The content and opinions contained herein do not necessarily reflect the view or policies of History Colorado.