Fruits Are Available For Harvest In Capitol Reef National Park

In addition to spectacular scenery and thrilling adventures, Capitol Reef National Park is a living history museum showcasing frontier farms and offering fruit from historic orchards.

The park provided this information today:

The Mott Orchard is currently open for apples and there are a few pears available for harvest at the Gifford House.

The park website adds this background information:

Up-to-date fruit harvest information and pricing is recorded on the Capitol Reef Fruit Hotline as fruit ripens and specific harvest start dates are determined. The fruit hotline may be reached by calling (435) 425-3791. Once the park number connects, press one for general information and, at the voice prompt for the orchard hotline, press five. Fruit harvest information is also posted on the park Facebook page and Twitter feed. Information on the Fruita Orchards is available on the park website at www.nps.gov/care under "plan your visit."

Climbing fruit trees is not permitted in the park. The National Park Service provides special fruit picking ladders. Use care when picking fruit and carefully read and follow posted instructions on fruit picking and ladder use.

Capitol Reef National Park uses the receipts from fruit sales to defray the cost of maintaining the orchards. The historic Fruita orchards are among the largest in the National Park System and were established beginning in the 1880s by pioneer residents of Fruita.