Vancouver’s historic ties to Apple

It all begins in 1826 with the planting of the Ft. Vancouver Apple tree. Rumored to be the first apple tree planted in Washington state, the tree is considered the matriarch of the apple industry in Washington state, the apple capital of the world.

Thanks to the City of Vancouver, NPS, dedicated arborists and countless volunteers, the Apple tree lived to nearly 200 years old. And now is having a second life in its off-spring that have been planted out by Fort Vancouver, and in countless yards and gardens across the City.

A small park area with a tree and decorative white posts enclosed by a black metal fence, under a highway overpass with a city skyline in the background.
A field with a wooden fence, trees with colorful fall leaves, and a tall wooden watchtower in the distance, framed by branches and berries in the foreground.

We here at Mela Cider are doing our part to preserve the rich apple growing tradition of Vancouver. We are propagating several cuttings from the Ft. Vancouver Apple tree in hopes that it may live on for future generations to enjoy. With the intention that a small orchard of Vancouver’s original apple tree can come to fruition.

A stone wall with a green plaque that reads, "The Old Apple Tree. The apple culture of the Pacific Northwest began at Fort Vancouver in 1826. This is the oldest apple tree in this territory."