Nonprofit plants 300 apple trees to establish Detroit orchard

In the first step of a grand plan to establish a commercial orchard in Detroit, more than 100 volunteers Friday will plant 300 Honeycrisp apple trees on vacant land on the city’s east side.

Grosse Pointe Park-based nonprofit Wolverine Human Services has invested $150,000 to plant the trees at 2610 Lenox St., near Dickerson and Mack avenues, completing a two-year process to build the demonstration orchard called Core Orchards Detroit.

More than 100 employees of Bingham Farms-based Paragon Properties LLC will help with planting efforts starting at noon, a news release said.

The goal is to sow an agricultural destination and offer fresh, affordable produce to the community, said Matt Wollack, WHS vice president of strategic development. The nonprofit scaled back its initial plan to plant 3,500 trees in favor of a demonstration orchard after receiving feedback from residents of the community.