Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project (MORP) works to preserve Colorado’s fruit- growing heritage and restore an orchard culture and economy to the southwestern region.
MORP envisions southwestern Colorado being renowned for an orchard culture and economy based on the legendary quality and diversity of Montezuma Valley Fruits.
Remnants of Colorado’s early fruit diversity remain in our rural and urban landscape. The trees are hidden or right in plain sight – sometimes forgotten, and other times revered by the families who always remembered. MORP is dedicated to preserving this fruitful legacy.
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To that end, we strive to inspire YOU and a whole new generation of orchard owners to help move forward the hard work and vision of Colorado’s early fruit growers.
And in doing so, we must recognize how the establishment of orchards in Colorado coincided with the forced displacement and genocide of Native people. MORP seeks to acknowledge and learn from the full truth of history as we respect and support the resiliency of our Native neighbors today.
Through our work, and with your collaboration, we hope the next generation of orchards will be rooted in kindness, justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, and will grow for 100 years or more.
What We Do
What We Offer
Milestones
- 6K historic fruit trees located.
- 200+ heritage apple cultivars preserved.
- 2K+ rare & endangered apple trees planted in school, community, research, & conservation orchards.
- 10K+ apple trees grafted for sale or donation to the public.
- 2 historic orchard sites saved for future generations.
- 1M+ dollars raised & invested to rebuild the critical land & infrastructure needed to store & process the region’s previously wasted heritage fruit into a value-added juice product.
- 3K+ students taught lessons on Colorado’s fruit growing history & how to graft.