Fruit Acres
Organic to the Core
Local Apple Season in Full Swing
By Greg Lovell
Nearly 80 years ago, Dr. Archie Skemp saw something special in the bluffs just north of La Crescent. A doctor by trade but farmer at heart, Skemp made a move that would lay a foundation for generations of apple growers to come: he purchased Fruit Acres.
Today, Fruit Acres occupies about 400 acres of scenic bluffland overlooking the Mississippi River. Certified organic and home to thousands of trees producing dozens of different apple varieties, Fruit Acres is as strong as ever. And it’s still owned by the Skemp family.
“I love the challenge to do the best we can for the land we’re honored to tend,” said Ana Skemp, one of Fruit Acres’ current owners. With their earliest apples arriving in August and latest varieties coming in October, Skemp spends much of her fall harvesting.
“Basically, each week we walk the orchard and taste the fruit. We want to bring people apples at peak ripeness,” she said.
When apples are ripe and ready, they pick from that section by hand and reach out to local co-ops with that week’s offerings. Additionally, customers can come pick their own in designated rows on weekends.
Going Organic
Skemp says she and the others operating Fruit Acres were initially farmers, not orchardists, but soon learned the tricks of the trade and got the entire orchard certified organic.
“Growing fruit organically is arguably one of the most challenging paths as a food producer,” Skemp said. “We learned how to track degree days and fungal spore emergence, insect pest populations, and how to harvest at peak ripeness. We get better each year.”
Many of the apple varieties grown at Fruit Acres originated in Minnesota or Wisconsin, which means they have been selected to do well in this climate. SweeTangos, for example, tend to produce a robust yield all on their own.
“Our orchard couldn’t be more perfectly situated to grow good crops of organic fruit,” Skemp continued. “The warmth from the river rises up and helps protect the blossoms from late frosts in the spring and the ridge top winds keep fungal pressure lower. We benefit a lot from the smart planning and layout from the farmers who came before us.”
Through it all, Skemp takes pride in using organic methods and being a good steward of the land, ensuring its viability for years to come.
“I love to see the abundance of fruit on our trees and know that pollinator strips and managed mowing are doing their job to create habitat for dwindling insect populations,” she added.
Community Partnerships
With years of experience under their belts and a bountiful harvest of apples in hand each fall, Skemp and company have expanded partnerships, including with the People’s Food Co-op.
“We love working with the People’s Food Co-op so much. The staff is so supportive and easy to work with,” said Skemp.
“It’s pretty great how often we hear from people who just bought our apples at the store. That’s really the beauty of a local grocer and how it should be.”
In addition to distribution, Skemp says another big goal was to open the orchard to the community. “We’re less than 10 minutes from downtown La Crosse and we adamantly wanted to share the beauty of the place with others,” she continued.
Currently, Fruit Acres offers pick-your-own days, an apple CSA, and pop-up sales. They are also looking to expand into classes and events on the orchard and have even hosted a wedding.
“It’s such an honor to be a special place for families,” Skemp said. “Our goal is to connect people with good food and a beautiful place.”
Future Blossoms
Skemp and the rest of the Fruit Acres team have worked hard learning to grow beautiful, delicious, certified organic apples. For them, there is nothing better than when someone takes a bite and exclaims it’s the best apple they’ve ever tasted. It’s the fruit of pride and tradition, and it’s all in the orchard–perhaps with more to come.
“I love thinking and dreaming about what a farm or orchard can be for its community and then working step by step toward those goals,” said Skemp. “It’s an honor to grow food for local families.”
This article is also available to read in our Fall 2025 edition of The Garlic Press!