About The Apple Shed
OUR HISTORY
Maple Ridge Fruit Farm was established in 1906 by the Welcher family and now in its 4th generation. We are located between Lake Ontario’s fruit orchard region and the Finger Lakes Wine Trail of Upstate, NY. In 1973 The Apple Shed farm market was opened offering fresh, local produce to the community and visitors. Over the years the market has seen many expansions including Old Goat Cidery at The Apple Shed in 2017. Today The Apple Shed is a seasonal family attraction offering produce, sweet cider, hard cider, donuts, pies and cookies, home décor and gifts, farm animals, a corn slide for the kids, pumpkins, Christmas trees, occasional activities and so much more!
OUR FARM
Apples are our number one crop. We don't harvest until they are fully mature, ensuring the best flavor. The soil and climate in our region, created in-part by our proximity to Lake Ontario, help produce the most flavorful and beautiful apples anywhere.
Our 100-acre orchard is comprised of nearly 80,000 trees. The first planted in 1907. Those trees have since been replaced by more modern varieties and planting systems, but you can still find a few older trees with the oldest having been planted in 1942. Every year, older trees are replaced in order to accommodate changing tastes, new varieties and state of the art growing systems that produce higher yields and better quality with less labor.
With more than 25 varieties, we have an apple for every taste and season! Some of the varieties we grow, such as SnapDragon and RubyFrost are exclusive to New York State, while others like HoneyCrisp, Gala and Fuji, are widely available throughout the country. The harvest begins in late-August and continues through early-November; apples are generally available for purchase throughout most of our season.
OWNERS, GARY & BARB WELLS
Gary and Barb Wells are celebrating 51 years of The Apple Shed!