RegisTREE of North America

Preserving our fruit and orchard heritage through documentation, conservation, and collaboration.

A Collaborative Team of Fellow Fruit Enthusiasts. Join Us!

Join Us

RegisTREE logo by John Bunker

Please join the efforts of  Historic Fruit Tree Working Group of North America  to register fruit trees and orchards in the United States and Canada to preserve the cultivar diversity and cultural history they represent. Although this project's focus is on rare and endangered apple varieties, and historic orchard sites, you are invited to register any fruit tree regardless of its rarity or age.

*Please note: The fruit and orchard RegisTREEs are in development. Your  questions and comments  are extremely important to us in making them as user-friendly and accessible as possible.

Click on the fruit and tree icons on the interactive map to explore North America's fruit and orchard heritage! (continue reading to learn how to contribute)

DO NOT RECORD OR VISIT THESE LOCATIONS WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM OWNER/OCCUPANT. Private orchard locations are hidden from the map, but are shared with fruit preservation groups for research and educational purposes. Some trees are also hidden from the map if the surveyor chose to make them not visible.

Three ways to contribute:

  1. Click on any of the RegisTREE buttons or links throughout this story to access the web surveys from browser.
  2. Install Survey 123 Mobile Field App on any device and download both RegisTREEs to access online AND offline.
  3.  Contact us  if you have a large data set you would like imported into RegisTREE.
  • The fruit and orchard RegisTREEs complement one another and are designed to be used together. However, you may choose to use either one on its own.
  • Use Fruit RegisTREE to record individual trees, and Orchard RegisTREE to record the orchards in which they reside.

Ready! Click on a RegisTREE button to submit your survey data and add to the map. Or continue reading to learn the full story.

Fruit RegisTREE

Collect tree-level data. Click on the slideshow below to learn more.

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Who Should Map A Tree?

Anyone and everyone who has a passion for preservation of fruit diversity and its heritage. We are asking users of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of expertise to join us. (click on this slideshow to learn more, right arrow)

What Trees Do I Map?

Any fruit tree growing in North America that you have permission to document. While our focus is on rare and endangered apples, you may register any fruit tree of any variety, age, rarity, and condition. You may also register trees where the variety is unknown. Identify your apple or cherry tree at  MyFruitTree.org 

When Do I Map A Tree?

Anytime of year for basic survey. Intensive survey may require more strategic timing. Prepare for the elements. Think safety first. Always notify and receive permission from landowner before site visit.

Where Do I Map A Tree?

Wherever you have access and permission on private or public lands. Anywhere from an historic orchard site, open space, to an urban backyard. In preservation, commercial, community, school, or research orchards.

Why Should I Map A Tree?

By registering your tree(s), you are helping to preserve the cultivar diversity of fruit trees and the cultural history they represent.

How Do I Map A Tree?

For best mapping accuracy, use  Fruit RegisTREE  in the field on mobile device. Already familiar with the tree and location? You may instead place it on the map from your home/office using web browser on any device. *Plan to work offline? See Survey 123 Mobile Field App.

Orchard RegisTREE

Collect orchard-level data. Click on the slideshow below to learn more.

*Please note, for the purposes of this survey, 'orchard' refers to the location of the tree(s) you are recording, whether one fruit tree or many.

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Who Should Map an Orchard?

We are asking fruit explorers, orchard owners, students, academia, and the general public to join in this project. You do not need to be an expert. Bring your passion. (click on this slideshow to learn more, right arrow)

What Orchards Do I Map?

Any orchard (or site of even a single tree) in North America that you have permission to document. Although our focus is on historic orchards and/or sites containing heritage fruits (of any age), you may record all orchard types.

When Do I Map an Orchard?

Anytime you have access and permission.  Orchard RegisTREE  is used to record the orchard and its characteristics. It may be used in combination with Fruit RegisTREE which, in contrast, records the individual trees in the orchard.

Where Do I Map an Orchard?

Wherever you have access and permission on private or public lands. Anywhere from an historic orchard site, open space, to an urban backyard. In preservation, commercial, community, school, or research orchards.

Why Should I Map An Orchard?

Reasons include: 1) reporting location to fruit explorers to potentially follow up with on-site survey of the trees, 2) promote public orchards and agri-tourism opportunities, 3) preserve orchard heritage.

How Do I Map An Orchard?

You can register an orchard from anywhere on any device using  Orchard RegisTREE  web browser. *Plan to work offline? See Survey 123 Field App.

Survey 123 Mobile Field App

~For Dedicated Fruit Explorers~

Who Should Use the Mobile Field App?

Dedicated users who want the ability to map in offline locations. Please note: (click on this slideshow to learn more, right arrow)

How Do I Install The App?

Install ArcGIS Survey 123 on mobile device from: 1)  App Store , 2)  Microsoft , or 3)  Google Play .

Download Surveys

Once the mobile app is installed, you will be able to download the surveys directly onto your mobile device by clicking on survey links. 1) Install App, 2) Using mobile device, download  Orchard RegisTREE  &  Fruit RegisTREE  BEFORE working offline. Detailed instructions below.

DO I Need An ArcGIS Online Account To Use The App?

No, but be sure to follow the detailed instructions below to avoid being asked to sign in. Contact  Team RegisTREE  with questions and comments.

Steps To Download Surveys To App On Mobile Device

  1. Download and install the Survey123 field app at these links: 1)  App Store , 2)  Microsoft , or 3)  Google Play .
  2. After the app is installed, using your mobile device click on each of these links:  Orchard RegisTREE  &  Fruit RegisTREE  * IMPORTANT: To install the surveys on the app, click on both of these links from this site, not from the app, otherwise, you will be asked to sign in with an ArcGIS online account.
  3. You will need to click/tap Open in Survey123 app – see Figure 1 below. The surveys will open in the app on your device and automatically download.
  4. You do not need to create an account so do not sign in unless you already have an ArcGIS online Creator level account. Select “Continue without signing in” at bottom of screen (see Figure 1 below). Please note: to have the ability to edit your surveys you would need an ArcGIS online Creator level account.
  5. Now you should be ready to use the app either when online – or offline. Once the surveys are added to the app on your device they will be there to use, no need to download again.

FIGURE 1 (See images above) Once you have downloaded the surveys, you will see them in the app's home screen. You may need to close out of a survey to see this screen - unless you are ready to complete and submit.

Save and Submit A Survey From The App

From the app's home screen:

  • Click on  Orchard RegisTREE  or  Fruit RegisTREE , then Collect to start a new survey.
  • Click Drafts to see surveys that you have started, but not submitted (you will only see this if you have unsubmitted surveys). Save as draft is a good option if you want to collect a few data points in the field and then add details when you are back in the office. To save as draft: begin a new survey then close by clicking the X in upper left corner, choose "save as draft". Remember to submit the survey once complete.
  • Click Outbox to send surveys that you completed but did not send (i.e. you were out in the field without cell service). You can also edit surveys in the outbox before you submit.
  • Click Sent to see surveys that you have already submitted (you will only see this if you have submitted surveys). Here you can make copies of surveys that you have already submitted. Copying the information you submitted will let you edit the information for a new survey without having to re-enter all data fields. Note: Unless you have an ArcGIS online Creator level account, you will not be able to edit surveys that you have already submitted. However, you can send needed updates to  teamregistree@gmail.com  and we will make the updates for you.

How To Save And Reuse Favorite Answers

If you have favorite answers, such as your name and contact information, you can save them to auto-populate in subsequent surveys.

  1. Using the menu ≡ in the upper right corner, you can set the current state of your survey to act as your favorite answers. Just fill in your favorite (most repeated) answers.
  2. Once you’ve set your favorite answers, you can insert them into new surveys by opening the menu ≡ and clicking Paste answers from favorite. This will enter your favorite answers into your new survey.
  3. If at any time you need to change your favorite answers, enter them into your current survey and click Set as favorite answers. If you find yourself entering repetitive information in a field, you can use your current answers to prepopulate subsequent surveys. The survey that you use to set your favorite answers will be marked with a star.

Our Team

Connect with a team member near you. Join us by becoming a dedicated fruit explorer! Send general questions and comments to:  teamregistree@gmail.com 

Apple Historian

Dan Bussey

Boulder Apple Tree Project/University of Colorado Boulder

Amy Dunbar-Wallis and CU Team

College of the Atlantic

Todd Little-Siebold; Lydia Pendergast

The Lost Apple Project

David Benscoter

The Lost Apple Project: Idaho Chapter

Richard Uhlmann; David Castro

Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association/Maine Heritage Orchard

John Bunker; Laura Sieger; Todd Little-Siebold; Lydia Pendergast

Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project

Addie and Jude Schuenemeyer

Temperate Orchard Conservancy

Joanie Cooper

USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation

Gayle Volk

MyFruitTree.org / Washington State University

Cameron Peace; Alexandra Johnson

Apple Historian

The Illustrated History of Apples in the United States and Canada, already being heralded as a pomological classic, is designed to comprehensively record and illustrate our food crop heritage in rich detail, thus helping to rescue and popularize the historic varieties that still exist.

Boulder Apple Tree Project/University of Colorado Boulder

The Boulder Apple Tree Project is a unique organization in that it agglomerates ecological, historical, and genetic information regarding apple trees in Boulder County, Colorado with the assistance of community members, citizen scientists, undergraduates, and researchers. Our goal is to map and measure all of the oldest apple trees in Boulder to find the varieties that were planted as part of Boulder’s unique apple industry in the early 1900s. Amy Dunbar-Wallis is the project coordinator at the Boulder Apple Tree Project. She is a PhD student at the University of Colorado in Boulder interested in studying how field research experiences shape undergraduate education. 

College of the Atlantic

 Todd Little-Siebold ; Lydia Pendergast

College of the Atlantic has been doing fruit exploring, documentation, research and mapping for over a decade on the apples of downeast Maine. Students each year do fieldwork and document new trees, and faculty member Todd Little-Siebold has been focused in on developing a comprehensive catalog of everything grown in the region.

The Lost Apple Project

The Whitman County Historical Society Lost Apple Project seeks to identify and preserve heritage apple trees and orchards.

The Lost Apple Project: Idaho Chapter

The Whitman County Historical Society Lost Apple Project seeks to identify and preserve heritage apple trees and orchards.

Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association/Maine Heritage Orchard

John Bunker is an apple historian, gardener and orchardist. In 1984 he started the cooperative mail-order nursery Fedco Trees. In 2012 he founded the Maine Heritage Orchard in Unity Maine. His recent book, “Apples and the Art of Detection” recounts his 40 years of tracking down, identifying and preserving rare apples. He lives with Cammy Watts on Superchilly Farm in Palermo Maine. To contact John or to learn more about John and Cammy’s activities, go to  outonalimbapples.com .

Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project

The roots of Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project (MORP) were established when co-founders Jude and Addie Schuenemeyer began their horticulture careers in 2001. For fifteen years, they ran a nursery that had originally been in business for over 50 years and had a lot of older clientele who often asked about apple varieties they remembered enjoying as children. In asking around, the Schuenemeyers realized just how many old trees still grew in the region – hidden or right in plain sight – sometimes forgotten, and other times revered by the families who always remembered. They founded MORP in 2008 with the belief that the remarkable orchard culture and economy that once thrived in southwestern Colorado could be rebuilt. MORP works to preserve Colorado’s fruit growing heritage and restore an orchard culture and economy to the southwestern region.

Temperate Orchard Conservancy

Temperate Orchard Conservancy (TOC) was established in March 2012 to preserve and share the genetic diversity of tree fruits that are grown in the temperate climate zones of the world.

USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific in-house research agency. Our job is finding solutions to agricultural problems that affect Americans every day from field to table. Here are a few numbers to illustrate the scope of our organization: 660 research projects within 15 National Programs 2,000 scientists and post docs 6,000 other employees 90+ research locations, including overseas laboratories $1.5 billion fiscal year budget

MyFruitTree.org / Washington State University

Dr. Cameron Peace is fascinated by fruit, genetics, history and what breeding offers future generations. He is a professor in the Department of Horticulture at Washington State University, and his research program aims to bring the benefits of natural diversity and the genomics age to fruit breeding. He uses new genome-wide DNA profiling techniques to understand the inherited attributes and ancestry of fruit trees. His current passion is reconstructing the family tree of all apple varieties, and the same for cherry.  Go to MyFruitTree.org . In Pullman, he oversees the student-run Palouse Wild Cider apple breeding program.

Dashboard

Contact Us

©Historic Fruit Tree Working Group of North America

RegisTREE of North America

RegisTREE logo by John Bunker

FIGURE 1 (See images above) Once you have downloaded the surveys, you will see them in the app's home screen. You may need to close out of a survey to see this screen - unless you are ready to complete and submit.

DO NOT RECORD OR VISIT THESE LOCATIONS WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM OWNER/OCCUPANT. Private orchard locations are hidden from the map, but are shared with fruit preservation groups for research and educational purposes. Some trees are also hidden from the map if the surveyor chose to make them not visible.