Branching Out: Stroh Orchard Offers a Bounty of Produce Throughout the Year

Stroh Orchard in Angola is open seasonally, from the start of strawberry season in June through the winter, with a variety of commodities. Photo credit: Nathan Lambrecht

A few years ago, the son of two former farmers decided to take a risk and buy an orchard with roughly 15 acres of fruit trees.

“I’ve got farming in my blood,” says Troy Eriksen, owner of Stroh Orchard. “My parents grew up on farms.”

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Photo credit: Nathan Lambrecht

Stroh Orchard in Angola offers more than 30 varieties of apples, as well as pears, peaches, plums, pumpkins and strawberries. The orchard makes honey, apple butter and apple cider from the apples, too.

Before purchasing the orchard, Eriksen worked in maintenance at a foundry and sold maple syrup and honey from beehives on his property.

See more: Farm Facts: Apples

While selling maple syrup at the Stroh Orchard store, the then-owner mentioned his plans to retire and sell the property – planting the seed for Eriksen to purchase the orchard in spring of 2018.

Though not raised on a farm, Eriksen had some hands-on experience. “I always worked on farms growing up,” he says.

While an orchard is quite different from a grain or animal farm, Eriksen was willing to take the plunge.

With insight and advice shared by the former orchard owner and other fellow fruit producers, Eriksen journeyed into his next adventure.

Something New

Stroh Orchard offers more than 30 varieties of apples starting in August through the winter months, as well as honey, apple cider, apple butter, maple syrup and more. Photo credit: Nathan Lambrecht

The new chapter of the orchard called for a refresh. Ericksen shortened the name from G.W. Stroh Orchard to Stroh Orchard.

He added baked goods from a local bakery, including apple cider doughnuts and apple dumplings, and seasonal produce from local farms to the orchard’s store.

However, most other elements have remained the same. “I haven’t made too many changes,” Eriksen says.

An Orchard Visit

Photo credit: Nathan Lambrecht

While Stroh’s Orchard doesn’t offer apple picking, it does have apple tasting, with samples provided upon request.

Honeycrisp – sweet, crisp and often red with a little yellow – is Stroh Orchard’s best-selling apple, Eriksen says, while Golden Delicious, a sweet, yellow apple with a texture that’s on the softer side, is the second runner up. This apple is often used for baking or sauces as well as eating fresh.

Stroh Orchard is open seasonally, from the start of strawberry season in June (usually around June 10) through the winter, closing for a short break at the end of March.

In June, the orchard’s store opens with strawberries. More produce, such as sweet corn and tomatoes, is available come July. Then, starting in August, more than 30 varieties of apples and the orchard’s peaches – which usually sell out – are available.
Honey, apple cider, apple butter, jellies, jams, maple syrup and apples tend to be available through the winter months.

“I have people from all over come to get the cider,” Eriksen says.

In September, plums and pears appear at the store, and around Halloween, there are pumpkins. In the fall, caramel apples, caramel corn and kettle corn are sometimes available.

See more: Indiana Orchards Directory

Climate Change Challenges

Photo credit: Nathan Lambrecht

For a relatively new owner, the orchard has its challenges, such as climate change.

“It could be a pretty good area for growing fruits, or it may not be,” he says. “Climate change is going to affect the quality of the fruit.”

Last year, the apple trees were harmed when they started budding and then a freeze came.

“Climate change will be a challenge,” Eriksen says. “We’ll just have to learn how to adapt.”

What Eriksen enjoys most about his orchard is the peacefulness.

“The birds are in the background,” Eriksen says. “It’s quiet and peaceful just being outside.”

See more: Autumn Adventure Awaits in Owen County