Ohio Figs and Fruit Co-Op

25/05/2026

Memorial Day open house!!
4 in 1 grafted apple trees. Over 100 to choose from.

16/04/2026

Macoun is a highly regarded dessert apple known for its rich, sweet-tart, vinous flavor, crisp white flesh, and deep red to purplish-red skin. It was bred in New York and is generally described as a cross of McIntosh and Jersey Black, with introduction commonly cited as 1923 in Geneva, New York.

Origin
Macoun was developed in New York and is named for W. T. Macoun, a Canadian breeder. Sources consistently place its origin in the Geneva, New York breeding program, with the cultivar introduced in 1923.

Fruit quality
The fruit is usually medium to medium-large, often conic or slightly irregular, with a green background covered by dark red blush and stripes. The flesh is firm, crisp, juicy, aromatic, and excellent for fresh eating; it can also work in pies, salads, and applesauce, though it is prized most as a fresh dessert apple.

Ripening and storage
Macoun is a late-season apple, typically picked from mid-September into October depending on climate. Storage life is not long compared with many modern varieties; one source gives about 1 week, while another says 3 to 4 weeks under proper conditions.

Tree habits
The tree is usually described as vigorous, hardy, and productive, but it needs training to develop a spreading form because it can grow upright. It also tends toward heavy cropping and may need thinning to improve fruit size and reduce biennial bearing.

Disease resistance
Macoun has average to moderate disease resistance overall, not strong resistance across the board. It is often reported as somewhat resistant to cedar apple rust and somewhat resistant to or at least not highly vulnerable to fire blight, but it is commonly described as susceptible to apple scab and somewhat susceptible to fire blight and canker.

Growing considerations
Macoun generally performs best in cooler northern climates where cool autumn nights help develop color and flavor. It is cold-hardy, but because of its disease profile and crop load tendencies, it does better with good site selection, airflow, and regular thinning.

16/04/2026

Prairie Spy is widely described as a good fresh-eating, baking, and long-storage apple.

Origin
Prairie Spy was developed at the University of Minnesota Fruit Breeding Farm in Minnesota, and sources place its development in Excelsior, Minnesota. It was selected from seedling material planted in 1914, with commercial introduction in 1940.

Its exact parentage is uncertain, but it is often thought to be a Northern Spy seedling; one source instead lists parentage as Wealthy × Northwestern Greening, so the historical record is not fully consistent.

Fruit traits
The fruit is usually described as large, firm, and attractive, with red-over-yellow or red-over-green skin depending on the source and growing conditions. Flavor is reported as tangy to sweet and improves after storage, which is why it is valued for pies, baking, and winter eating.

It typically ripens in late October or around that period, and it stores well for months.

Disease resistance
Prairie Spy is not a fully disease-proof apple, but it is considered relatively resilient. One nursery description says it is mildly susceptible to fire blight and apple scab, while resistant to cedar-apple rust.

Another source calls its disease resistance “good,” and notes that it can still show apple scab in wet-spring regions.

So the practical takeaway is: it has solid resistance for a cold-hardy heirloom, but you should still expect some scab or fire blight pressure in favorable disease conditions.

Growing habit
Prairie Spy is very cold hardy, generally rated for USDA Zone 3, and it is considered a reliable cropper once established.

It is usually described as vigorous, with an upright juvenile habit that becomes round-spreading as the tree matures.

It is not self-fertile, so it needs another apple variety nearby for pollination.

Practical summary
If you want an heirloom apple for a cold climate, Prairie Spy is mainly valued for four things: winter hardiness, long storage, strong baking quality, and good flavor after conditioning in storage.

Its main weakness is that disease resistance is only moderate rather than exceptional, especially for scab and fire blight.

For a home orchard, it’s a strong choice if you want a classic late-season apple and can manage normal disease pressure.

16/04/2026

The ‘Hawaii’ apple is a conventional apple cultivar (Malus domestica), not a native Hawaiian fruit, and it is sometimes confused with the Hawaiian “mountain apple” (‘ōhiʻa ʻai, Syzygium malaccense), which is a completely different tropical tree.

Origin and parentage
‘Hawaii’ is an apple variety bred in the United States, generally associated with California and the Gravenstein‑apple‑growing region around Sebastopol.

Its parentage is Golden Delicious × Gravenstein, combining the sweetness of Golden Delicious with the bright, aromatic profile of Gravenstein.

It was introduced in 1945, so it is a mid‑20th‑century dessert apple rather than an heirloom or very old cultivar.

Growth and fruit characteristics
The fruit is medium‑to‑large, typically yellow to yellow‑green, with a sweet, juicy flavor often described as having a faint pineapple or tropical scent, which likely inspired the name.

It is classed as a dessert or fresh‑eating apple, suitable for eating out of hand rather than heavy cooking, though it can be used in light culinary applications.

Disease resistance
‘Hawaii’ shows good resistance to cedar apple rust, which is a notable advantage in regions where rust is common.

However, it is moderately to somewhat susceptible to other major apple diseases, including apple scab, fire blight, and powdery mildew, so it is not considered a strongly disease‑resistant or “low‑spray” cultivar overall.

Regular cultural practices (pruning for airflow, sanitation, and possible protective sprays) are recommended in humid or disease‑prone climates to keep the tree healthy.

25/02/2026

15/02/2026

Honeyberry 2 pack - $30 (compatible cross pollination pair)
The 'Boreal Beauty' haskap is a late-season, cold-hardy haskap (honeyberry) variety developed for its very large, firm, and flavorful berries, ideal for fresh eating and commercial harvesting. It requires a compatible pollinator like 'Boreal Blizzard' to produce fruit.
Key Characteristics
• Fruit Size and Appearance: 'Boreal Beauty' is known for its large berries, averaging about 2.6 grams, with some reaching up to 3.7 grams. The fruit is a deep blue, oval or heart-shaped, and notably firm.
• Flavor: The berries have an excellent, rich sweet-tart flavor, often described as a combination of blueberry and raspberry, with hints of black currant or elderberry.
• Harvest Time: It is a late-season variety, typically ripening in late July to early August in cooler climates like Saskatoon, extending the harvest season.
• Plant Habit: The shrub has a very vigorous, upright, and sturdy growth habit, reaching a mature height of 4-6 feet.
• Yield: Mature plants are high-yielding, capable of producing 8-12 pounds of fruit per bush. It is well-suited for mechanical harvesting due to the berries' firmness and strong attachment to the branch.

Boreal Blizzard is a premier, cold-hardy (Zone 2-8) haskap/honeyberry cultivar from the University of Saskatchewan, celebrated for producing some of the largest, best-flavored berries (up to 3.9g). Known for a sweet-tart flavor, it is ideal for fresh eating, baking, and, thanks to its firm, large fruits, efficient harvesting.
Key Characteristics and Care
• Flavor & Size: Large, elongated, blue-purple berries with a taste described as a blend of blueberry and raspberry.
• Plant Habit: Vigorous, upright, and dense shrub, growing 4–6 feet tall and wide.
• Harvest Window: Mid-season, typically from mid-June to mid-July.
• Yield: Very high-yielding, with reports of 11–17.5 lbs per plant.
• Pollination: Requires a different, late-blooming pollinator. Boreal Beauty is a highly recommended partner.
• Boreal Blizzard is highly regarded for its "zing" or, as described by researchers, a perfect balance of high sugar and tangy acidity.
Maintenance: Both Beauty and Blizzard are generally easy to grow with good resistance to mildew and sunburn.

11/02/2026

11/02/2026

22/03/2025

Douglas Gentile will have grafted Paw Paw and grafted Persimmon and figs at both locations next weekend for sale!

Robert Kreiling will have fall gold raspberry and figs for sale at both locations next weekend.

Brad Hamilton will have figs, blueberry, mulberry, pear, apple, and stone fruit trees for sale at both locations.

Ohio Figs and Fruit Festival (Mansfield)
Gorman Nature Center
2295 Lexington Ave.
Mansfield, OH 44906
(Inside)
March 29th
10am-4pm

Ohio Figs and Fruit Festival (Cleveland)
Lowes Greenhouse, Florist & Gift Shop
16540 Chillicothe Rd.
Chagrin Falls, OH 44023
March 30th
1pm-4pm
(Inside)

Full Schedule to be released soon. If you want to speak, be a vendor or set up a food truck reach out to me today!
Brad Hamilton 419-884-3797