Landowner Dispute Stymies Apple-Picking Season at Butler’s Orchard

Apple picking has been temporarily suspended at due to a dispute between the family farm's operators and the person who actually owns the land.

Pick-your-own season was supposed to open Tuesday with the early ripening Gala apples. But at around 8:30 p.m. Monday the orchard tweeted:

Due to circumstances beyond our control the apple orchard will not be open until further notice. Stay tuned for updates!

Farm operator Wade Butler told Patch that the Butler family did not own the four-acres that comprised the apple orchard, an arrangement that dates back to the 1980s.

“We've had a long-term agreement with the landowner there, and we've just hit a little bit of a rough patch in the last few days,” Butler told Patch

Butler said declined to comment further on the nature of the dispute.  

“We've had a verbal agreement,” Butler said. “We need something a little better I guess.”

Butler said they’ve been talking with the landowner and were making “progress.” He said the farm anticipates opening the apple orchard Wednesday.

“Hopefully by the weekend,” Butler said.