The oldest American apple?
Photo. by Todd Little-Siebold.
By Biya Gandal ’28
What began as a College of the Atlantic class project exploring the history of apples in Maine has evolved into groundbreaking research uncovering rare, centuries-old apple varieties. Working in collaboration with several partners, COA history professor Todd Little-Siebold and his COA Maine Apple Lab have embarked on a journey towards rediscovering the forgotten ancestors of American apples.
The discovery of a rare French apple in the nearby Penobscot River Valley is one of their most exciting finds. The apple, which may have been continuously propagated since the 1600s, is possibly among the oldest continuously grown apples in America, Little-Siebold says, and possibly one of the most significant French ancestors of modern American apples.
Through DNA testing, which involves collecting leaf samples and comparing them against a vast international apple database, the team was able to determine that the apple is a very old French variety that may have been planted by early French settlers in the region in the 17th century.
The discovery highlights how modern scientific advancements can illuminate the past, bridging centuries-old agricultural history with cutting-edge research.
“Without DNA testing, we would have never identified this apple,” says Little-Siebold. “Normally, we rely on matching fruit to historical descriptions, but this particular apple would have been impossible to identify without the science behind it.”
The apple's survival tells a remarkable story of resilience. Along with others found through similar genetic detective work, Little-Siebold says, it highlights the importance of preserving genetic diversity in apple varieties, particularly in the face of climate change. In fact, this apple’s rare genetic lineage may hold crucial answers for adapting modern crops to future environmental challenges.
“Somebody’s kept it going. They passed it from generation to generation to generation over 400 years,” Little-Siebold says. “That tells you something about how they valued it.”
Further research will hopefully turn up other such apples in the area, which is one of the longest-settled regions of Downeast Maine, he says. Nearby Castine, historically called Pentagoet, was inhabited by French traders and farmers who lived alongside a Wabanaki community for well over 100 years before the English moved into the area around 1760.
In addition to uncovering these rare apples, Little-Siebold and his team work closely with the Maine Heritage Orchard at Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, which serves as a preservation orchard for over 400 historically significant Maine apple varieties. This partnership between education, preservation, and genetic research is integral to maintaining the rich history of Maine’s orchards and educating future generations about the importance of preserving heritage crops, he says.
“We're really focused on the research and historical documentation… and they’re really focused on the preservation,” he says. “It’s the perfect complementary work.”
The discovery of these rare apples isn’t just a victory for history enthusiasts or orchardists—it’s a testament to the deep connection between food, culture, and the land. As research continues, the COA team is on a quest to uncover more lost apple varieties, contributing to a better understanding of our agricultural roots and inspiring future efforts in crop preservation.
Photo by Todd Little-Siebold.
The College of the Atlantic Maine Apple Lab engages in historical research, uses genomics to build profiles of heirloom apples, and networks with preservationists around the country and the world.
The lab’s purpose is to contribute to the conservation of heritage apples by tracking down, documenting, and solving the mysteries around their origins. They are helping to reconstruct the history of apples in Maine and America generally to inform conservation strategies.
The lab’s work combines molecular techniques with traditional historical research and fieldwork to rescue and document apples that are the rarest of the rare from around the COA region.
The lab collaborates with the Maine Heritage Orchard to propagate and preserve the rarest and most unique apples from around the state, the Cameron Peace Lab at Washington State University Pullman, and the Historic Fruit Working Group of North America.
