Points North: How ‘Bout Them Apples?
On a remote island in Lake Michigan, some old apple trees could have very rare, never-before-discovered genes.
By Austin Rowlader, Interlochen Public Radio, Points North is a biweekly podcast about the land, water and inhabitants of the Great Lakes.
The Search for Rare Apple Trees
Luke Marion is on Beaver Island in Lake Michigan looking for apple trees. It’s a sunny day in March, kind of coldish with snow on the ground.
- When Marion finds a tree, he takes out a pair of pruners and cuts last year’s growth off the branches.
- Then he puts the cuttings in a carefully marked bag and into a cooler, where they will stay dormant.
There’s a chance these particular apple trees could be very rare, located 32 miles off mainland Michigan.
These apple trees could join the U.S. stockpile of apples poised to fight off future threats.
Author's summary: Rare apple trees found on Beaver Island.