John listens as Governor Mills reads him the text of the recently enacted 2026 Apple Tree Preservation Act. She reminded him that, “As Maine goes, so goes the nation”. We hope the rest of the nation is listening.

The big news today was word of a new bill that passed both state houses in Augusta and was signed into law by Governor Janet Mills. “This is a great day for the state,” Mills said in a press release. “It’s the first bi-partisan bill to pass unanimously in the state since 1792. It’s about time!” The bill creates a fund to support the documentation and maintenance of all Maine apple trees over the age of 150. Property owners who own apple trees proven to be a century and a half in age will now be property tax exempt for the life of the tree and will receive a maintenance stipend of $500 per year, per tree.

“Hooray for Maine,” said professor Todd Little-Siebold, director of the Maine Apple Lab in Bar Harbor. “Finally we’ll be able to protect our state’s pomological heritage.” Renae Moran and Glen Koehler of the Maine Pomological Society also applauded the new bill. "Maine's apple history is our heritage," they wrote in a joint memo.

In a signing ceremony attended by over 500 orchardists, fruit historians and miscellaneous apple geeks at the Blaine House Orchard in Augusta, Governor Mills encouraged Mainers to submit photos and other supporting evidence about their apple trees. “In Maine thanks to the work of MOFGA as well as the staff and volunteers at Maine Heritage Orchard, we now understand that Black Oxford, GR2, Drap d’Or de Bretagne, and all the rest of Maine's apples are state treasures. We will do everything we can to support those who love and steward our oldest Maine apple trees. We all love apples.”

To submit your application for a grant to protect your old apple trees, please contact the Governor’s office or your local state rep.