Renowned apple grower, fruit researcher and horticulturist Dr. Robert T. (Bob) Norton will be the featured speaker at the Festival of Fruit on Saturday, Sept. 19, in Carkeek Park, 950 NW Carkeek Park Rd. 

Norton raised 325 apple varieties when he worked at Washington State University’s (WSU) Research Unit in Mount Vernon.  He ran the WSU tree-fruit testing program at the experiment station there for more than 30 years and introduced the firm, crisp and flavorful Jonagold to commercial orchardists in the Puget Sound area back in the 1960’s.  Since retiring from research, he has also run AppleCorps, a fruit tree consulting business.  

He will give a talk on “Fruit Tree Varieties, Old and New,” and conduct a walking tour of the old Piper orchard. He will be available for questions after the discussion. 

Hosted by the Friends of Piper Orchard and Seattle Parks and Recreation, the Festival of Fruit will be held from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19. 

Other festival highlights include:

• Talks and exhibits on non-toxic pest control methods, bee keeping, selection and care of your own fruit trees, and more!
• Fun for young-uns in the Kids Korner!
• Sample fresh pressed cider!
• Naturalist-led walk to the historic 118 year-old orchard
• Pie Baking Contest: Bring a home-baked pie made of local or organic apples to enter in the pie contest. Judges will taste at noon! 

For detailed schedule information, please visit the web at www.pipersorchard.org or e-mail carkeek.park@seattle.gov.

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