Masker Orchards

The Masker tradition began more than 95 years ago in 1913, when Ora J. Masker and his wife Rena purchased close to 200 acres of farmland in the beautiful Warwick Valley. It was at this time that Ora and his wife Rena dedicated their lives to farming and discovered that the soil conditions and climate were perfect for apple trees. As time passed, Ora became a successful commercial apple farmer, harvesting thousands of bushels of apples each season. After his picking crew departed the farm following the harvest, Ora opened up the farm to local residents to take the remaining apples that had fallen from the trees. Word spread fast, and each season more and more folks came to the orchard to pick the drops. Thus the "pick-it-yourself" orchard was born.