Owner of Mullis Orchards reflects on 40 years of the business for Maine Apple Sunday

CORINNA, Maine (WABI) – Maine Apple Sunday means so much more to the family that runs Mullis Orchards.

40 years ago, Patty Mullis and her late husband planted apple trees in Corinna.

A wide variety of apples continue to grow from Macintosh to Zestars.

“It was a passion of my husband’s to grow fruit so this whole area where we are was just an open field and one by one he started planting apple trees,” said Mullis.

With the help of their three sons, the orchard now has 1200 trees.

However, things got tough for the Mullis family when Patty’s husband suddenly passed away in 2017.

After working in education for almost 50 years, she decided to commit the rest of her time to the orchard to keep the family legacy alive.

“He wanted to do something important for the community and for us and for our children and I think he did,” said Mullis.

That passion motivated her to keep the orchard thriving, with his vision in mind.

Making sure each bite tastes like home.

As she navigates this journey, Mullis says she feels the support of her community.

“They’re our friends, they’re our neighbors and the community supported us because they appreciate our hard work and our determination,” said Mullis.

She’s proud to be a part of one of the many families providing a unique orchard experience in Maine.

“You work together as a family, you create this environment and then you go off into the world and you take those skills with you,” said Mullis.

The orchard is open for U-pick and so much more.

For more information on Mullis Orchards, follow the link to their website or Facebook page.

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