Chazy Inc. Leading the way in McIntosh Apple Production

Where does the orchard go from here?

Story by Adam Colver

The Secret of the Perfect Apple

When an apple is picked where does it go? Until preparation for sale apples are stored in a controlled atmosphere.

Chazy Orchards Inc. was a pioneer for a new refrigeration method. In 1944 Dr. R. M. Smock of Cornell University changed refrigeration of the apple forever. The controlled atmosphere rooms lock in the freshness of apples so that months later they are as fresh as the first day picked.

“Apples breath just like a human."

Tre Green, owner of Chazy Orchards, said, “Apples breath just like a human, they take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide,”

The controlled atmosphere is made with ammonia compression and refrigeration. Each rooms can hold up to 22,000 bushels of apples. There are seven rooms total that hold the crop and slow down the aging of the apples. Each room removes the warm air and reduces the oxygen level to a level so low it can be hazardous to your health. The rooms are barricaded so that no one will enter them. When the time comes the rooms are opened and apples are prepared for sale.

Once the apples are ready for sale they are cleaned, sorted by size, and polished. A computer analyzes each apple and determines which line it will go in, then sorted so that quality control workers can package them for shipping.

This separation done by a conveyer belt system. The apples are dropped into water still in the crate. Next, they float to a machine that picks them from the water and analyzes them. A sticker is applied to the apple marking what type of apple it is. A scanner keeps records of every apple that is processed through this line. The fancy is determined by the color of the apple. If it is all red, it is considered a fancy apple. Others that are not all red are still considered "fancy" apples they just aren't as desired by the public. The apples are then polished and sorted to four different workers that package the apples.

The History and Future of Chazy Inc.

The history of the orchard began in 1763. Jean LaFramboise was the first white settler that is now the region known as Chazy, New York. During LaFramboise 's lifetime the only growing of apples was done at his residence. A part of LaFramboise's place is still owned by the Chazy Orchard. This 1,600-acre farm is known for its view of Lake Champlain, as well as the opportunity to eat apples, which was considered a luxury at the time.

The McIntosh apples became a trademark of Clinton County since this was the only place they were grown in the country. The years to follow attracted a market from New York City. The Delaware and Hudson Railroad Corporation saw this as an opportunity and purchased the land. They used their railroad to ship apples to Montreal and all across New York.

Major planting for the orchard that exists today occured between 1924 and 1926. By 1931, a total of 43,180 trees existed and to this day there are over 100,000 trees. Many of the plantings do not still exist due to an orchard removal program and replanting of dwarfing rootstocks. These trees differ because they are designed to grow fruit and not wood according to Green. Some setbacks of the new trees are the life expectancy. Green said, “The original trees grow for 60 years while the dwarf trees will burn out at 30-40 years.”

Green took over the orchard from his grandfather, Donald F. Green Sr., with many of the same production machines still in use. In 1929 the DHRC put the orchard in the hands of Hon. Fred L. Porter of Crown Point, NY. He formed his own corporation and with the help of Mr. I. Hasbrouck Chahoon of AuSable Forks, NY, and Hon. Bertram H. Snell of Potsdam, NY, they were all large contributors to the success of the orchard.

Since the transfer of ownership to the Green family, the orchard has remained in managed by Tre. He has three children that he hopes will takeover the orchard, however he is prepared to sell the orchard if needed. One thing is for sure-the McIntosh apple will thrive for years to come with the help of Green and the Chazy Orchard.

Have you ever visited Chazy Orchard?

Weather has been culprit
to apple crop this season

The world's largest McIntosh apple orchard has been experiencing a rough season. The reason? weather. This year's season has been wet and a fierce storm that swept through on August 7, has only made it worse.

This 1,000-acre farm has been trying to overcome what nature has done. With such a wet season only 30 percent of the farm was producing at the time of the storm. Tre Green owner and operator of Chazy Orchard said, “When it is so wet the bees will not pollinate the flower, which will reduce the crop.” The seed of the apple is produced when the flower is pollinated.

High winds and hail damaged the orchard leaving the apples bruised and many unusable for any apple product such as cider, sauce or regular consumption. After the storm a large majority of the growing crop was lost.

“The usual picking season lasts six weeks but this season will be over after only three weeks,” Tre Green said. “The fruit that is still manageable is being produced for juice.” The juice does not yield as much of a profit since juice does not require the perfect apple.

Green has resorted to importing apples from places such as Peru, Crown Point, Vermont and even Canada. He has workers picking apples in other locations to keep them working. With the small crop, his usual workforce has been cut in half. The orchard has a large market, as it has begun shipping domestically as well as to foreign countries. Green ships out at least a tractor-trailer full to the United Kingdom each week alone.

Each year, Green has his crop insured. He is receiving the maximum insurance claim due to his lack of crop. “The adjusters are very knowledgeable because they are farmers,” Green said.

Location:
Chazy Orchard
9486 Route 9
Chazy, NY 12921
Phone: 846-7171