Minnesota
Minnesota orchard lets you pick up fresh fruit, distilled spirits
![Minnesota orchard lets you pick up fresh fruit, distilled spirits](https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dims4/default/889ed89/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5606x2725%200%20506/resize/1440x700!/quality/90/?url=https://forum-communications-production-web.s3.amazonaws.com/brightspot/92/c5/8bc5c1d94aacbeb109e48d0c3877/092622-applesrus-orchard-distillery-09014.jpg)
ROCHESTER — Selecting apples might be exhausting work.
So, when Jay Clark determined he needed to retire on an apple orchard, he knew he wanted a solution to maintain the work manageable as he aged, and to maintain the income coming after the apple choosing was achieved.
“After I designed the orchard I used to be 57. I knew we weren’t going to be climbing up ladders with choosing baskets. I designed it in order that I might do that in my 80s. It’s informal labor and we’re the senior residents crew right here,” stated Clark.
At 69, Clark enjoys the early years of retirement age working for his spouse Tammy Soma Clark at her apple orchard, Apples R Us Orchard & Distillery.
Clark shouldn’t be the one one in his 60s reaping the advantages of working for his spouse’s apple orchard. The eight apple pickers that give their time are all 60 or older, excluding one.
Clark moved onto the property in 1995 after leaving the oil enterprise and spent the subsequent 5 years clearing out the property to construct the Velocity Store, customized automotive store.
Joe Ahlquist / Publish Bulletin
He spent a few years working the store and racing down at Deer Creek Speedway outdoors Spring Valley. Clark is now retired from racing however his spouse Soma Clark nonetheless enjoys hitting the tracks now and again in the course of the summer time.
It is a good diversion whereas the apples develop.
“We don’t wish to pack yr spherical,” stated Clark. “We at all times make sure that all our fruit is passed by Christmas, what we don’t promote we make into liquor. We go to Florida for the winter and are available again between April 10 and 15 to begin the subsequent yr of rising.”
“It’s all so I can get caught up on the harvest season,” stated Soma Clark. “I’ve to crush, ferment and get every little thing prepared so we will go away every winter. Final yr I crushed 212,000 kilos of apples to make liquor earlier than we left for Florida.”
When Clark and Soma Clark started the orchard in 2009, they’d 300 bushes planted, now in 2022, they’ve greater than 12,500 with plans to plant a 3rd orchard part by 2024. The third orchard can be smaller than the 2 already planted and prepared for choosing on the farm.
Joe Ahlquist / Publish Bulletin
“It takes 5 years for a tree to get to the purpose the place it’s tall sufficient to select a crop off it. We’re not planting anymore in our two orchards however had been creating the third orchard for some early varieties: First Kiss, Honeycrisp. We’re a full USDA, Minnesota Division of Agriculture licensed pack home, there usually are not many round right here, simply us and (Elgin, Minnesota’s) Wescott Orchard,” stated Clark.
As soon as picked, apples from Apples R Us Orchard are bought off to all 4 Hy-Vee places in Rochester amongst different locations.
Clark and Soma Clark have solely been within the distilling aspect of the enterprise for 4 years now since Soma Clark secured a state distilling license for the enterprise again in 2018. The distillery has given a spot for even the dangerous apples in batches to be put to good use as Clark defined.
“An apple with open marks or bruises, our laptop kinds these out and we will really crush that for liquor. We will’t crush it for cider as a result of once we crush for folks to drink cider, we use unperforated apples which can be washed and able to go. However once we make liquor, we will use apples with marks and bruises as a result of we ferment it and distill it so no one ever drinks them, and helps to stop any waste,” he stated.
Joe Ahlquist / Publish Bulletin
With the distillery and Velocity Store on the orchard farm, Clark and Soma Clark don’t at all times provide the normal fall actions focused for households. Soma Clark pushes extra give attention to educating folks and communities on the logistics and sciences of rising an orchard, however the couple doesn’t discourage folks from coming to their farm to take excursions of the orchard.
“If folks wish to see our employees choosing we’ll take them out to the orchard to see how our apple choosing is finished. We’ve been doing much more personal occasions lately, as folks have been actually drawn to have their weddings on our farm,” stated Clark.
The orchard is open for normal enterprise or visits for these desirous about stopping by. The orchard is open each day till Nov. 23, working 9 a.m. to six p.m. Monday by way of Saturday and 11 a.m. to six p.m. on Sundays.
The retail retailer contained in the shed not solely sells merchandise from the orchard comparable to apple bunches, cider and rum however cheeses from Metz’s Hart-Land Creamery and an artwork stand for a neighborhood artist’s work to be bought.
In a yr’s time, Clark and Soma Clark count on to have brandy able to promote at their farm and to liquor shops. The brandy nonetheless must age the required two years earlier than being bought underneath state legislation.
MORE PHOTOS OF APPLES R US:
Joe Ahlquist / Publish Bulletin
Joe Ahlquist / Publish Bulletin
Joe Ahlquist / Publish Bulletin
Joe Ahlquist / Publish Bulletin
![](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/np-logo.png)
Minnesota
How to watch: WCCO’s 75th Anniversary 1-Hour Special
![How to watch: WCCO’s 75th Anniversary 1-Hour Special](https://assets2.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/07/05/9bbded72-ec7a-40a3-a498-46e3a289990a/thumbnail/1200x630/6ba7f01099899c1088d1ed20118d6551/fs-wcco-celebrating-75-years-more-moments-youtube.png?v=57e8061b2038d609da26e467de5ddfb8)
MINNEAPOLIS — To celebrate 75 years in the business, WCCO is excited to re-air and hour long special that details some of the biggest stories we’ve covered over the last seven decades.
Over the last few months, we’ve been showing you some of the biggest moments in Minnesota’s history nightly.
This special takes it a step further, unveiling vintage footage directly from the WCCO archives and includes interviews with some of the station’s most iconic anchors, reporters and broadcasters like Don Shelby, Dave Moore, and Mark Rosen.
WCCO’s history is Minnesota’s history.
Thanks for helping us tell your story.
How to watch
- What: WCCO’s 75th Anniversary 1-Hour Special on CBS News Minnesota
- Date: July 5, 2024
- Time: 7 p.m. CT
- Watch: On CBS News Minnesota on Pluto TV or on the CBS News app on your phone or connected TV.
Minnesota
Bonner scores 24 to lift Connecticut Sun past Minnesota Lynx 78-73
![Bonner scores 24 to lift Connecticut Sun past Minnesota Lynx 78-73](https://img.apmcdn.org/1c28cf40183f75019550775b58b03ead426634cc/widescreen/838c56-20240705-two-female-basketball-players-go-after-the-ball-2000.jpg)
DeWanna Bonner scored 24 points, Alyssa Thomas had 14 assists, 13 points and 10 rebounds, while DiJonai Carrington made big plays down the stretch to help the Connecticut Sun hold off the Minnesota Lynx 78-73 on Thursday night.
Lynx star Napheesa Collier left late in the third quarter because of a foot injury. Selected to the U.S. Olympic team, Collier scored nine points, ending her double-figure scoring streak at 29 games.
Bonner made 10 of 16 shots with two 3-pointers and added nine rebounds for the Sun (16-4), who have posted back-to-back wins after losing three of their previous four.
Thomas matched her season high for assists and Carrington finished with 17 points including 3 of 4 from beyond the arc.
Gifts from individuals keep MPR News accessible to all – free of paywalls and barriers.
Alanna Smith scored 14 before fouling out to lead the Lynx (14-6). Kayla McBride had 13 points and eight rebounds.
Bridget Carleton connected on a 3-pointer and Diamond Miller followed with a three-point play as the Lynx scored the first six points of the fourth quarter to knot the score at 64. Bonner answered with a 3-pointer and a three-point play for a 70-64 lead and the Sun never trailed again.
Carrington blocked McBride’s layup attempt with 28 seconds left that would have pulled the Lynx within two and added two free throws with 16 seconds remaining to push the lead to six. McBride sank a 3-pointer, but Carrington answered with a layup to wrap up the victory.
Bonner scored 11 on 5-for-7 shooting to lead Connecticut to a 20-17 lead after the first quarter.
Veronica Burton sank a 3-pointer to give the Sun a 32-24 lead with 4:42 left in the first half. McBride hit two 3-pointers and Carleton and Smith both made one in a 16-4 run to end the period and the Lynx took a 40-36 lead into halftime.
Smith had a 3-pointer and a layup in an 8-2 spurt to begin the third quarter to give Minnesota its largest lead at 48-38. Carrington made back-to-back 3-pointers to cap a 10-0 run and Connecticut evened the score at 48. Thomas followed her three-point play with six straight free throws and a layup, scoring 11 of the Sun’s final 14 points for a 64-58 advantage heading to the final quarter.
Connecticut has won five in a row against Minnesota in Minneapolis and improves to 2-0 against the Lynx this season.
Up next
Minnesota will host the Washington Mystics on Saturday. Connecticut returns home to play the Atlanta Dream on Sunday.
Minnesota
Minnesota Lynx lose 78-73 to Connecticut Sun as Bonner scores 24 points
![Minnesota Lynx lose 78-73 to Connecticut Sun as Bonner scores 24 points](https://assets2.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/07/05/a3dbb7a7-591e-4ac3-80ae-dbcf90af351f/thumbnail/1200x630/3a30a3748bda1109589b0cadbb3ea0ff/gettyimages-2160656934.jpg?v=57e8061b2038d609da26e467de5ddfb8)
DeWanna Bonner scored 24 points, Alyssa Thomas had 14 assists, 13 points and 10 rebounds, while DiJonai Carrington made big plays down the stretch to help the Connecticut Sun hold off the Minnesota Lynx 78-73 on Thursday night.
Bonner made 10 of 16 shots with two 3-pointers and added nine rebounds for the Sun (16-4), who have posted back-to-back wins after losing three of their previous four.
Thomas matched her season high for assists and Carrington finished with 17 points including 3 of 4 from beyond the arc.
Alanna Smith scored 14 before fouling out to lead the Lynx (14-6). Kayla McBride had 13 points and eight rebounds.
Bridget Carleton connected on a 3-pointer and Diamond Miller followed with a three-point play as the Lynx scored the first six points of the fourth quarter to knot the score at 64. Bonner answered with a 3-pointer and a three-point play for a 70-64 lead and the Sun never trailed again.
Carrington blocked McBride’s layup attempt with 28 seconds left that would have pulled the Lynx within two and added two free throws with 16 seconds remaining to push the lead to six. McBride sank a 3-pointer, but Carrington answered with a layup to wrap up the victory.
Bonner scored 11 on 5-for-7 shooting to lead Connecticut to a 20-17 lead after the first quarter.
Veronica Burton sank a 3-pointer to give the Sun a 32-24 lead with 4:42 left in the first half. McBride hit two 3-pointers and Carleton and Smith both made one in a 16-4 run to end the period and the Lynx took a 40-36 lead into halftime.
Smith had a 3-pointer and a layup in an 8-2 spurt to begin the third quarter to give Minnesota its largest lead at 48-38. Carrington made back-to-back 3-pointers to cap a 10-0 run and Connecticut evened the score at 48. Thomas followed her three-point play with six straight free throws and a layup, scoring 11 of the Sun’s final 14 points for a 64-58 advantage heading to the final quarter.
Connecticut has won five in a row against Minnesota in Minneapolis and improves to 2-0 against the Lynx this season.
UP NEXT
Minnesota will host the Washington Mystics on Saturday. Connecticut returns home to play the Atlanta Dream on Sunday.
-
Politics1 week ago
Popular Republican and Trump running mate contender makes first Senate endorsement in 2024 races
-
News1 week ago
Toplines: June 2024 Times/Siena Poll of Registered Voters Nationwide
-
Politics1 week ago
Fox News Politics: Trump Ungagged…Kinda
-
News1 week ago
Iowa floodwaters breach levees as even more rain dumps onto parts of the Midwest
-
Politics1 week ago
Mike Kennedy advances past crowded GOP primary to secure nomination for open Utah House seat
-
Politics1 week ago
The many faces of Donald Trump from past presidential debates
-
News1 week ago
New Jersey gamer flew to Florida and beat fellow player with hammer, say police
-
News5 days ago
Video: How Blast Waves Can Injure the Brain