Specialties
Champlain Orchards is one of the oldest continually operating orchards in Vermont, overlooking Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains. Our fruits are ecologically grown with intention and care —healthier for the soil, healthier for you! Everything we produce is an expression of our family-owned orchards. From our 175+ varieties of fruit to our handcrafted provisions and crisp ciders, we invite you to discover the taste of the Champlain Valley and this beautiful place we call home.
History
Established in 1998.
Champlain Orchards began in 1998 when Bill Suhr, at 27 years old, purchased 60 acres in Shoreham, Vermont, motivated by a dream to live sustainably off the land. Despite lacking experience in apple growing and fruit farming, Bill’s passion for the environment and his entrepreneurial spirit drove the orchard's transformation. Over the years, the growth of Champlain Orchards has been substantial. Annually, the orchard harvests over 100,000 bushels of apples, largely due to the introduction of diverse and disease-resistant apple varieties. This bounty supports not just local markets but also reaches schools, hospitals, and stores across the region, underscoring the orchard’s impact on Vermont’s local food system. Today, Champlain Orchards is a testament to sustainable agricultural success, managing over 220 acres and offering more than 115 varieties of apples alongside a diverse range of fruits like plums, peaches, and berries.
Meet the Business Owner: Bill S.
Bill grew up in the Maryland suburbs and began developing a love for Vermont from a young age by spending summers with his grandparents in Greensboro. Once he completed high school, it was a natural choice to attend UVM where he studied Natural Resources and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Biology in 1994. Right out of school, he began a career as an environmental consultant, but as he gained professional experience, it became clear that his goal was to be self-employed and earn his living off the land. He would frequently spend weekends land-hunting and toyed with plans of managing a woodlot or becoming a furniture maker. Once it came to his attention that the Larrabee Point Orchard was for sale in Shoreham, it was an opportunity he could not overlook, and Champlain Orchards was born.