David_Weatherly's Blog

As you have already figured out from the title of this post, it’s cherry picking time in the mountains of southwest Virginia; more precisely, at the Levering Orchard.

The Levering family is celebrating a hundred years of living on and lovingly tending to their steep slab of land, located on the southeast facing slope of the Appalachian Mountains.

Frank Levering is the third generation of the family to work the orchard. His grandfather, Ralph Levering, settled here in 1908.

He and wife Clara were looking for a place to plant a few apple trees and start a family. Originally from Tennessee, Ralph made many trips to the east side of the divide, in search of just the right spot. He walked all the way from Knoxville to Asheville on one journey, without finding what he was looking for. Clara wanted something with a fifty mile view.  Not wanting to disappoint his wife, he took the train to Roanoke, Virginia and headed south, once again on foot. He found just the right spot, on the very edge of the state, overlooking the Piedmont of North Carolina. The place was perfect for an orchard. Thermals generated in the foothills rise up the slope, lessening the harshness of winter and giving a nice constant breeze in the summer. Best of all it had Clara’s view.

The orchard has been in continuous operation for the last hundred years.

When he was old enough, Sam Levering took over the place from his father, Ralph. Sam was no casual farmer. He had a degree in horticulture from Cornell University. Armed with great knowledge and an eagerness to try new things, he started adding other types of fruit trees. In 1972 he planted his first Cherry trees. Today you’ll find forty-four different varieties that are usually ready for the picking from June to July. About the time the cherries are gone, peaches come in season. Then it’s apple time.  

As I mentioned earlier, Frank Levering is the third Levering to tend the trees and raise a family here; although there was a time when it didn’t look like that would be the case. A talented writer, Frank left the farm after college to seek his fame and fortune in Hollywood. Like most young artists, he did what ever it took to pay the bills, including a stint as a cap driver. Eventually he made a name for himself and found success, writing a script for horror movie called “Parasite.” It would be the first movie for a young actress named Demi Moore.  The bright lights and the big city were no match for the strong tug Frank felt from his Virginia mountain roots. In the 1980’s he returned to the farm and could never imagine leaving again. When you visit the orchard, you’ll understand.

Find out more about the orchard and picking hours by visiting their web site, www.leveringorchard.com