Vintage Virginia Apples

Tom Burford is an orchard and nursery consultant, specializing in the restoration, re-creation, and design of historic sites and private estates, as well as commercial and backyard orchards. He lectures and conducts seminars and workshops nationwide. He is the author of Apples: A Catalog of International Varieties, co-author of Fruit Grafters Handbook with Ed Fackler, and contributor of fruits content to The Northeastern Garden Book, published by Sunset Books. In 1997, he discontinued the nursery operation of his company, Burford Brothers at Monroe, Virginia, to devote full time to consulting.

Ed Fackler founded Rocky Meadow Orchard & Nursery in New Salisbury, Indiana, in 1975. He operated it until this year, when Gardens Alive, Inc. acquired it. Currently, he consults with agricultural schools at several major universities, as well as with corporate and private clients throughout across the nation. Fackler co-authored Fruit Grafters Handbook with Tom Burford, and has been a contributor to books published by the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. He has also authored several articles in such magazines as Fine Gardening. He is a past president of North American Fruit Explorers.

Rich Marini received his B.S. in Plant & Soil Sciences from the University of Massachusetts, a M.S. in Plant & soil Sciences from the University of Vermont, and a Ph.D. in Horticulture from Virginia Tech. After four years at Rutgers University, where he taught Tree Fruit courses and did research on peach tree physiology, he returned to Virginia Tech. As the Tree Fruit Extension Specialist he provides research-based information to the commercial tree fruit industry. His research interests include rootstock evaluations, pruning and training of apple and peach trees, orchard systems development, fruit set and fruit thinning, pre harvest apple drop, and insect/host plant interactions.

Charlotte Shelton founded Vintage Virginia Apples, LLC, with her family in 2000. In her "spare time," she is an investment professional with a national brokerage firm.

Margaret Shelton is a botanist who owns and operates Shelton Herb Farm in Leland, North Carolina. She presents workshops on growing and using herbs in all seasons.

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