Green Bench Orchard

06/01/2026

Orchard update! Pollinators have been busy in the orchard, getting around to the apple and raspberry buds.

The raspberry buds and apple fruitlets (pictured on the left) will turn into full sized apple and raspberry fruits (pictured on the right)! Lots of sun, irrigation, weeding, and time, develops the fruit from the left side, to the right side.

We can’t wait until raspberries are ready for u-pick! We expect raspberries around the first week of July— more updates to come!

05/20/2026

Since 2020 Green Bench Orchard has contributed $8,312 in cash, and hundreds of pounds of apples to Missoula Food Bank in support of their programs to "nourish our community". These donations are made possible because of you! Thank you for supporting our community.

This couldn't happen without the families and individuals who come to the orchard each year to pick apples and raspberries. Thank you so much for your support of Green Bench Orchard!

05/14/2026

Thank you so much to everyone that came out for our Mother’s Day Open Orchard!

It was great to see everyone having a picnic, taking pictures, exploring the orchard, and celebrating Mother’s Day! So many happy faces. Did you take photos? TAG US! We’d love to see them.

Now that peak bloom has passed, the orchard is in growing mode! Our days in the orchard have been busy with irrigating, weeding, and raspberry prep. As you can see we’ve got lots of dandelions…!

Next up: RASPBERRY SEASON in July. We can’t wait to see you then!

05/09/2026

Reminder! Our Mother’s Day Open Orchard is happening tomorrow from 12-4.

Come take a walk through the orchard in bloom, bring a picnic, and have your family photo taken. This is a free event, perfect for celebrating Mother’s Day. See you there!

05/05/2026

🌸 Mother's Day Open Orchard is THIS SUNDAY, May 10! FREE event, noon-4pm. Our apple trees will be in FULL BLOOM. Perfect for photos with mom! Grace will be available to snap free pictures of you and your family.

Bring: your own picnic, camera, and the whole family
We provide: a blooming orchard, picnic table, beautiful scenery, and someone to take your photos

Green Bench Orchard, 4701 South Ave W. No RSVP needed - just show up!

05/02/2026

GREEN BENCH ORCHARD UPDATE
MAY 2, 2O26

Here is a before and after of last Saturday’s apple tree pruning demonstration. The entire orchard has been pruned, and now we’re finishing up raspberry preparation!

Sandy Perrin at the MSU Extension office recognized some frost damage on some of our honey crisp tree buds. Last weekend's cold temperatures caused this, but we don’t think it caused too much damage.

Mother’s Day is coming up! May 10th! The orchard will be open for you to have a picnic, or take pictures alongside the apple blossoms, or both! Grace is an employee at Green Bench Orchard and will be available to take family photos on Mother’s Day.
All you need to do is bring your phone or some way for her to take a picture. She doesn’t have her own camera, but she will take the picture on your phone.

More details on the Mother’s Day orchard hours coming soon. The honey crisp trees are already starting to bloom. We’re not sure what the bloom conditions will be a week from now, but more updates are coming soon.

04/22/2026

GREEN BENCH ORCHARD UPDATE
APRIL 22, 2026

I will have a brief pruning demonstration on young apple trees, less than 15 years old. I will also show how we are managing our summer red raspberries.

Saturday April 25, 11-Noon at the orchard. 4701 South Ave. West, Missoula
No charge, let’s hope for nice weather.

We plan to have a Mothers’ Day Event on May 10th. More on that later.

Farmer Fred

Send a message to learn more

11/02/2025

ORCHARD UPDATE APPLES AND JUICE!!!

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2,2025
TODAY IS THE LAST DAY FOR APPLES AND JUICE AT THE FARM STAND

FRESH ORGANIC JUICE, $15/ HALF GALLON OR 2 FOR $25 WHILE SUPPLY LASTS

ALL APPLES REMAINING IN THE RED WAGON ARE FREE!!!
UNLESS THE DEER GET THEM FIRST

Cash, check or Venmo. I can’t do credit/debit cards.
5% of all sales to Missoula Food Bank to support their programs. So far, over $1000 to food bank.
Thank you for supporting local agriculture in Missoula, hope to see you in the orchard next year.
Farmer Fred

Send a message to learn more

10/28/2025

APPLES AND CIDER FOR HALLOWEEN!!!
ALL THE CERTIFIED ORGANIC HARALSON AND WOLF RIVER APPLES HAVE BEEN PICKED FROM THE TREES. THEY ARE IN THE RED WAGON AT THE FARM STAND. YOU PICK FROM THE WAGON AND FILL YOUR PECK BAG. GREAT FOR EATING, SAUCE OR JUICE.

PECK BAGS, 10-11 POUNDS, $10

THERE MAY BE SOME PARTIALLY EATEN APPLES IN THE WAGON, THE DEER LIKE TO HELP THEMSELVES. AVOID THOSE APPLES

ALSO AT THE FARM STAND, FRESH ORGANIC CIDER FROM OUR APPLES, $15/ HALF GALLON OR 2 FOR $25 WHILE SUPPLY LASTS. LOOK IN THE COOLER.

Cash, check or Venmo. I can’t do credit/debit cards.
5% of all sales to Missoula Food Bank to support their programs. So far, over $1000 to food bank.
Thank you for supporting local agriculture in Missoula, hope to see you in the orchard next year.
Farmer Fred

10/23/2025

APPLES AND JUICE!!!

ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON, OCTOBER 25, I WILL JUICE THE LAST OF THE APPLES. I WILL ALSO BAG THE HARALSON AND WOLF RIVER APPLES STILL ON THE TREES.

STOP BY TO WATCH US JUICE AND GET A SAMPLE, OR TO PICK UP SAUCE OR PIE APPLES.

PECK BAGS, 10-11 POUNDS, $10
FRESH ORGANIC JUICE, $15/ HALF GALLON OR 2 FOR $25 WHILE SUPPLY LASTS

Cash, check or Venmo. I can’t do credit/debit cards.
5% of all sales to Missoula Food Bank to support their programs. So far, over $1000 to food bank.
Thank you for supporting local agriculture in Missoula, hope to see you in the orchard next year.
Farmer Fred

Send a message to learn more