The moment John Bunker saw the 200+ year old tree, he knew it might be special. He had no idea however, that it was one of America’s oldest surviving apple trees, a French ancestor to many of the apple varieties we know and love today. Combining Todd Little-Siebold’s historical research and Cameron Peace’s genetic work, in this special interview the three of them are able to tell a story of this apple tree that is not unlike the story of many new species discoveries.

A transcript of this episode can be found here: Drap d'Or Bretagne

New (Old) Species and cultivar: Drap d'Or Bretagne

Maine Public Radio feature: https://www.mainepublic.org/maine/2025-06-02/on-verona-island-historians-discover-one-of-the-oldest-living-apple-trees-in-north-america

MOFGA press release:

https://www.mofga.org/news/apple-discovery-announcement/

Local news article (paywalled):

https://www.bangordailynews.com/2025/05/04/homestead/gardening/one-of-north-americas-oldest-apple-trees-on-maine-island-joam40zk0w/

Learn more about MOFGA: mofga.org (See you at the Common Ground Country Fair!)

John’s website: outonalimbapples.com

My Fruit Tree Project: myfruittree.org

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Music in this podcast is "No More (Instrumental)," by HaTom (https://fanlink.to/HaTom)

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