Apple shortage impacts vendors at Johnny Appleseed Festival

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Owners of some apple orchards in our area said they don't have any crops this year. The news of the apple shortage is having a direct impact on one of the largest festivals in Fort Wayne.

The Johnny Appleseed Festival draws in thousands of people to the Summit City every year. This year organizers have run into more obstacles than normal.

"Typically in the Farmer's Market we have 12 vendors. Four of them are apple vendors. And this year two of them dropped out," Johnny Appleseed Organizer Michelle Kyrou said.

That's because the drought has devastated several apple orchards in the Midwest.

After 28 years of coming to the Johnny Appleseed Festival, the owner of Doud's County Line Orchard in Roann won't be there this year. He told NewsChannel 15 he will miss the business and customers. If his yield is good next year, he has plans to be at the Johnny Appleseed Festival next year.

Doud said he can't remember a year where his orchard didn't have any apples.

"Dad talked about 1945 being a very small crop. I have never experienced no crop which is our situation this year," David Doud said.

Organizers were able to find two new apple vendors to take their spot. Michelle Kyrou said they'll do things differently next year.

"We found the two to fill in this year and next year we'll still allow them and the new vendors to participate. It will be a little crowded, but everyone will still have a spot next year," Kyrou said.

The Johnny Appleseed Festival this year is September 15 and 16.