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owell said the food industry has changed over the last 30 to 40 years with more and more individuals wanting to buy things locally. “People have definitely changed with what they are wanting to eat,” Powell said. “Everyone cares more about not only what they are eating but where the products they are eating comes from.” Powell attributes some generated interest in consumers purchasing local foods to farmers markets popping up in various places throughout Alabama. “Farmers markets create diversity and people most likely will know if they pick up a peach or an apple to purchase where it came from,” Powell said. “That is really important to people right now.” Mountain View Orchards in Jemison produces apples for consumers interested in buying or picking from a local orchard. Co-owners Andy Millard and his father-in-law Steve Wilson are entering into their fifth season of apples, allowing people to come and purchase seven different varieties of apples directly off the farm. Millard said the apples start producing in late July depending on the specific variety of apples that produce at different times and will continue until October. The seven different varieties grown at the orchard include Golden and Red Delicious, Fuji, Arkansas Black, Granny Smith,
Arlie, left, and Jason Powell run Petals From the Past, home to all sorts of fruit one wouldn’t expect to find in Jemison (following page). Photos by Emily Etheredge
Gala and Pink Lady. Although growing apples is not a foreign concept in Chilton County with many farmers growing them years ago, Millard said Washington and a lot of northern states with cooler climates are now the primary producers with little apple growers left in the southeast. When apples are ready to be picked, Millard and Wilson open their orchard and allow anyone interested to come and pick their own. “We try to create a fun time for anyone interested coming out
to the orchard and picking their own,” Millard said. “People enjoy coming and getting the apples fresh off the tree and it often surprises them that they taste kind of different than the ones you buy in the store.” Millard said a lot of apples sold at larger supermarkets have been picked for a while lowering the sugar content and making them taste less sweet as opposed to apples picked directly off the tree with a higher sugar content. “I hear a lot of people say they don’t taste the same as the ones
you buy in the grocery store and that is mainly because what they are picking off the tree tastes a lot sweeter due to its freshness,” Millard said. Millard said the most popular apple varieties sold at the orchard are Golden Delicious and Gala due to them being versatile for eating, cooking and canning. Millard said he enjoys seeing people come to the orchard and learn more about local fruit as well as giving them the opportunity to buy local. “It is amazing to see some of the
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