(KNSI) — August 2022 is in the record books, and the St. Cloud area saw almost four and a half inches of rain, around a half an inch above normal. That is good news for farmers as the rain washed away the drought conditions plaguing the area.
The rain also came just in time for apple picking season.
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Terri Traen owns and operates LuceLine Orchard in Watertown. Like family farms, the orchard business can be tricky being weather dependent, and Traen knows all too well what weather can do to crops. In 2015, the orchard took a direct hit from a tornado that wiped out half of the 10,000 trees on the 155-acre property she and her husband Rich have been farming and tending since 2004.
She said the drought last year had her “really worried” about how it would affect the trees this year, but “this year, they have done really well. Now we’ve had the much needed rain as of late, and the apples are real juicy, and he [Rich] said that would happen after we got that nice rain, that would really help the apples, and it did, so we’re fine.”
The orchard has you-pick apples and sells what they grow. Not only did the rain help ‘juice up’ the apples, “we pick them and we get them right into the cooler right away. And the cooler is about 34 to 36 degrees. So they crisp up right away. And to me, they’re the best quality you can get.”
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She said it would also help the trees going into next year.
Aside from the 10,000 apple trees, they also have a vineyard that cozies right up to the 63-mile-long Luce Line State Trail, a former rail line popular with hikers, bikers, and snowmobilers. It starts in Plymouth and ends at Thompson Lake near Cosmos.
The couple lived in Plymouth and frequently traveled through Watertown when visiting family, so they were familiar with the area. Traen, who used to walk the trail, says the initial intention for the farm was to grow grapes and apples and sell them wholesale as something to do down the road in retirement. Then their three kids mentioned they should start a family business.
It was a labor-intensive five years to clean it up and get it ready to open to the public, but since its small beginnings as a pumpkin patch to pay for the land, it has blossomed.
The orchard now boasts seven varieties of apples, a 30-acre corn maze, a “sunflower city” as she calls it that leads into the maze, two Scottish Highland cattle, two Angus cattle, two horses, sheep, donkeys, chickens, fainting goats, two dogs, a nature trail, pony rides, kiddy train rides, a corn tent for kids to play in, countrified basketball, hay rides, tire swings, concerts, food, a beer garden, cider, adult beverages, and the pumpkin patch which started it all is still there. LuceLine Orchard also sells gourds and squash.
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New this year is a giant 70′ by 30′ jumping pillow. Traen says, “We can fit 45 kids or 20 adults, so come on and jump.”
They serve locally crafted foods, plus sell other goodies like locally made caramel apples, candy, pies, and gifts.
LuceLine Orchard is open Wednesdays through Sundays. Learn more by clicking here.
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