The Gross Orchard Story
Family owned and operated for over a century.
Apples. Their sweet, inviting aroma is a favorite of many. But for one family in Bedford County, Virginia, apples are more than a summer treat-they’re a part of life.
For nearly 100 years, the Gross family has grown fruit in Bedford County beneath the slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In 1956 Austin Gross and his sons, Walter and A.J., Jr. started the A.J. Gross and Sons Orchard to take their delicious apples and succulent peaches nationwide.
Ronnie Gross carries on the tradition begun by his great-grandfather, proudly running the orchard that his grandfather, father, and uncle began over 30 years ago. Apple growing takes much patience, hard work, and dedication-and many, many long hours in the fields.
Fruit growing works on a seasonal calendar. In the fall, harvesting is the main concern. However, some new trees are being planted as well.
By mid-November, the harvesting is done and the pruning will begin. The trees will be pruned and thinned through the month of March.
By April, the orchard staff will begin hand thinning the peach trees as well as mowing and fertilizing the fields.
Summertime means even more labor. The peaches and other produce will be ripe for picking and by the time that’s all done, the apples will be ready to harvest again and the cycle will repeat.
Gross Orchard has long grown a variety of apples including: Red and Golden Delicious, York, Stayman, Winesap, Rome, Blacktwig, and King Lush. Additionally they are planting newer varieties of apples such as Gala and Fugi as well as older varieties such as Winter Banana and Northern Spy. Care for the different varieties of apples is basically the same except at harvest time, when the more tender varieties need special treatment.
The orchard’s location-on Route 640 near Bedford’s famous Peaks of Otter-is ideal for its purpose. The eastern slope of the Blue Ridge is perfect for fruit trees because there is less frost, the soil is ideal for them, and the area where Gross Orchard are located helps protect the trees during the winter. The mountains trap warmth in the valleys below, and the mountain itself absorbs heat from the sun shining on its slopes. At night, the warm air moves down into the valley, keeping the fruit trees from getting too cold.
The most vulnerable time for the fruit trees is when they are in bloom-and particularly when there is a light snow on the mountain. In this case, the snow reflects the sun’s warmth and does not absorb it, causing the airflow into the valley to be cooler and more moist than it should be.
“This is not like any other job”, Ronnie points out, noting they work 12 months a year for one crop. Fortune at the Bedford County site has been good, however-in the past 34 years, they have lost only four harvests.
But there’s more for customers at the Gross Orchard than just apples and peaches. Baskets, apple cider, crafts, honey, produce, jams, jellies, preserves, and many other homemade items abound at the orchard from June 1 until December 24.
Pumpkins are also available in the fall and, thanks to the wonders of modern refrigeration, apples are available up until the last day of the season-December 24. After picking, apples are packed into a refrigeration unit at the orchard’s packing plant, allowing customers to benefit from fresh, crisp apples into December. Gross Orchard began in the retail business the same time the packing building was built on the orchard, and now owns two stores-the country store at the orchard and Mountain Fruit and Produce, located on Route 43 North in Bedford, which offers many of the same items as the first location and the added treat of fresh apple pies.
Visitors to the orchard can also take a walking tour, which follows a trail through the heart of the orchard and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Afterwards, one can have a picnic and pick a few apples as part of a weekend trip to the Peaks of Otter. Aside from being the perfect, inexpensive way to spend a Saturday with family members, the orchards are also a favorite place for class trips for any age group from kindergarten to high school seniors to college students.
In addition, the products sold at the Gross Orchard country store are also available online, and can be shipped anywhere in the continental United States.
Gross Orchard not only serve as an example of what hard work and dedication are all about, but are also a reminder that there are still family-run businesses that aren’t afraid to put out a little extra time and effort to making something work. After all, isn’t that what family is all about?
