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From left: Gina, Linda, Ellen, David and Jenny

Photo taken by Shane Opatz
Staff photographer | Eau Claire Leader Telegram
(715) 833-9213 | shane.opatz@ecpc.com 

Glenwood City apple orchard offering first sales 

By Pamela Powers 
Menomonie News Bureau 

MENOMONIE - When David and Linda Lindquist bought a farm in rural Glenwood City, David couldn't wait to plant apples.

The first trees at Glenwood Orchard were planted in the spring of 2006.

Now the 20-acre orchard has 10 varieties of trees producing fruit. The orchard will offer retail sales for the first time this fall on site on weekends.

The orchard has about 1,100 trees.

All apples are pre-picked at Glenwood Orchard, 2909 Co. Rd. DD.

"My parents live in Hammond," Linda said. "We love the countryside there. We started looking around for a place. When Dave saw it, he just knew he could plant apples there."

David said he likes the farm, with its early 1900s barn.

He enjoys apples because they are a popular fruit, and he enjoyed the challenge of creating an orchard.

"I like seeing the fruits of your labor," he said. "It's pretty satisfying to go out there and plant a small tree that is chest high and in a few years it's 15 feet tall and bearing fruit."

Popular honeycrisp apples make up about half of the Lindquists' trees.

The Lindquists live in Blaine, Minn. David is a park supervisor with a background in horticulture. Linda is a nurse practitioner.

Their three adopted daughters - Gina, 15, Jenny, 13, and Ellen, 11 - help with the orchard. They also have two grown children.

Linda said her favorite apple is the Zestar, which has a sweet, spicy taste. The orchard does not have that type available this year but should next year.

One of David's favorites is the honeygold, a golden yellow apple with a red blush. The apple is sweet, crisp and juicy.

He believes an apple called the state fair is underappreciated. It's tangy and slightly tart, but it tends to be forgotten because it ripens early, before most people think about apple season.

The orchard practices integrated pest management practices, requiring minimal spray applications, which is healthier for customers and the environment, David said.

The couple walk the orchard regularly and check for pests and diseases.

"Old school was to get out and spray every week and more when it rained," David said.

So far the apples are looking good this year at most orchards in the region, said Jerry Clark, Chippewa County UW-Extension crops and soils educator.

"We haven't had any major pest issues," Clark said. "We had good pollination in May. The crop looks real good. Even though we had drought conditions, the apple trees tend to withstand that pretty good."

Because of a cool summer, apples may run one or two weeks behind schedule, he noted.

Eventually the Lindquist's hope to add some farm animals to Glenwood Orchard and offer music and barn dances.

They also urge anyone planning to buy apples from an orchard to call ahead to see what is available.

Powers can be reached at 715-556-9018 or pamela.powers@ecpc.com.