Want to learn more about growing fruit trees in Pagosa Springs?
Please join us for our next Growers and Producers Forum meeting today Thursday, November 13, 2025, at the Community United Methodist Church, 434 Lewis Street, downtown Pagosa Springs. The meeting runs from 4:00 pm to 5:30pm, in the Fellowship Hall. Our speaker for this event will be the Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project, based in Cortez, Colorado. They will be sharing their story about what the Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project is about and how they’re continuing efforts to keep heritage apple trees growing and producing in Montezuma County as well as our Southern Colorado region.
The founders of the Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project (MORP), Jude and Addie Schuenemeyer, began working with the heritage apple trees almost 20 years ago. Discovering that there still existed a number of older apple tree varieties still growing in the area, they decided to take steps to not only preserve these trees but also found ways to propagate new trees for future generations to enjoy. These varieties have been proven to grow exceptionally well in the four corners region, adaptive to climate extremes and elevations. So much so that thriving homestead and commercial orchard operations existed until the mid-20th century, when outside commercial growers determined that only red shiny apples were what the public wanted to consume. Many of the apple varieties planted in the region during the late 19th and early 20th centuries were lost because of this decision, and became extinct, never to be grown again.
Organized as a 501(c)3 fiscal sponsorship of Onward! A Legacy Foundation, the MORP works to not only propagate new trees for their orchard genetic bank, they share their knowledge and educate anyone interested in growing, grafting, pruning and harvesting these long lived heritage varieties and encourage those living in our region to grow more apple trees. In doing so, it extends the varieties life span and helps to preserve the history, going back to the late 1800’s, of a fruit growing community.
Healthy Archuleta is happy to invite the community to attend this special Growers and Producers Forum meeting today, November 13, to learn more about growing fruit trees in our area. There will be a slide presentation by the Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project, with plenty of time for questions afterwards. Please feel free to bring a light snack and drink.
To learn more about the Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project, you can visit their website at www.montezumaorchard.org.
And to find out more about the Healthy Archuleta sponsored Growers and Producers Forum meetings, please visit our website at www.foodcoalition4archuleta.org, click on Resources and then click again on Local Food Producers.