We are a seventh generation family farm (going on eigth!) located in Southern Maine.
We specialize in the production of high quality fruit for sale to pick-your-own and farm stand customers. We invite families of all ages to slow down, relax and enjoy high-quality agricultural products and low-impact recreational opportunities.
We hope that after a visit you will leave with an increased knowledge of, and appreciation for this small pocket of agriculture in Springvale, Maine.
Our Vision
Becoming a Forever Farm
Our 346-acre farm located on Hanson Ridge Road is protected through the Land for Maine’s Future Program and USDA Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program with Maine Farmland Trust and Mousam Way Land Trust.
On May 25th 2005, Robert and Pat McDougal, the previous owners of Hanson Farm, Inc., realized their dream to preserve the family’s orchards, hayfields, pastures and woodlands, forever.
"For 225 years each generation of the Hanson/McDougal family has done its part in keeping this farm going. Today, thanks to the efforts of our daughter Ellen, our son, and many public agency partners, we’re granting an agricultural conservation easement on our farm. We are doing this to slow sprawl and protect farmland to make good land available for future farmers in York County." - Robert "Mac" McDougal
The Land for Maine’s Future Program was created in 1987 in response to concerns over the loss of critical natural area, wildlife habitat, and farmland along with traditional access to undeveloped lands for hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation.The program also seeks to protect farmlands through the purchase of development rights.
Farm History
1779
Our story begins more than 200 years ago when Joshua Hanson purchased 450 acres of land at a tax auction for fifty-two pounds ten shillings. His nephew, also named Joshua Hanson, took over the farm, and then his son Benjamin F. Hanson, a renowned blacksmith turned legislator lived here with his wife Mary Libbey.
1861-1924
Judge George Hanson, son of Benjamin, operated a successful dairy business and planted a Baldwin orchard. George shipped barrels of his apples to England. His daughter, Mary Hanson, was a nurse during World War I, stationed at a fort in New Mexico. There, she met a soldier named Alva McDougal who had just returned from France. They fell in love and got married. Around 1924 they decided to visit Mary’s parents on the family farm back in Maine.
1924-1933
Mary and Alva decided to stay and take over the farm operations after Mary's father suddenly passed away, becoming the 5th generation of the Hanson/McDougal family to steward the land.
Up until 1930, there were 4 or 5 acres of orchard scattered throughout the farm, producing Russets, Pippins, Peewaukees, August Sweets, and other old varieties. From 1930-1933, Alva McDougal planted 1600 McIntosh trees on 17 acres in what is now known as the Main Orchard.
1974
Mary and Alva's son Robert McDougal modernized the orchard by planting dwarf trees in more varieties. He first opened the orchard for pick-your-own in 1974 after a hailstorm wiped out any chance of a wholesale crop.
He and his wife Priscilla (Pat) Berry had four children who all worked at the orchard in different capacities. Glen and Gene worked on the farm for a time, and years later Evan and Ellen came back to the farm and became partners in owning and operating the business.
1989
Ellen McDougal came back to the orchard in 1989 and she and her husband Jack McAdam took over full control of the business in 2009. Together, they have continued to maintain the pick-your-own operation, experimenting with new apple varieties and stone fruit.
Present Day
Currently, McDougal Orchards is run by Ellen, Jack and their two children Matt and Polly. They have regular family meetings where they mostly get along and are working toward making the business more resilient so that it will continue for the next 8 generations or more!
Robert H. McDougal (6th generation), was responsible for the initial modernization of the operation. At one time he was tending 75 acres of apple trees in various spots around Sanford. His market at that time was nearly 100% wholesale, although he did have a small salesroom at the front of the barn for retail.
Most of the big, old and slower-growing standard trees were replaced with smaller, dwarf varieties that produced more quickly, and a cold storage replaced the barn’s former cow tie-up. Most importantly, Robert was the first in the area to start a pick-your-own operation in 1974, after a hailstorm destroyed any hope of a wholesale crop.
Many people thought he was crazy for letting the public come to the orchard and pick their own apples, but it was a success! Wholesale apples were still the main focus but pick-your-own (PYO) became an annual event
Ellen (7th generation) had always wanted to be back on the family farm and started learning the apple business alongside her Dad. Her brother Evan was also involved in the orchard business around that time and he was a driving force behind transitioning to agrotourism (wagon rides, a corn maze, cross country skiing), incorporating shoulder-season crops like cucumbers and tomatoes grown in a hoop house and diversifying our operation by planting crops like fall raspberries, pumpkins, winter squashes and more.
In the mid 90’s Ellen was able to show her dad that the business was losing money on wholesale apples. They started taking out trees and selling less and less wholesale through distributors. Eventually wholesale stopped and today we focus entirely on retail and pick-your-own.
Captain Jack’s Donut Shack
Captain Jack was a USCG licensed Captain. He sailed for 32 years with NOAA on Fisheries Research Vessels mainly out of Woods Hole. He spent the last ten of those years as Captain of the NOAA Ship Delaware II and NOAA Ship Albatross IV. In 2005 the Admiral offered him a position on the beach. There was no thinking about his answer “YES”!
Ellen always thought that apple cider donuts would do well at the orchard, and with his new schedule allowing him to be home on weekends, they purchased a Belshaw Donut Robot in 2005.
For the first two years Jack and his daughter, Polly made donuts on a deck outside the former X-Country ski warming shack. Sales increased the second year and the decision was made to move inside. Some rearranging was done in the shack to give the donut operation more room and an exhaust hood was added. The popularity of Captain Jack’s cider donuts has grown ever since!
In 2017 we leased the Donut Shack to the Hanselmann family. They took over the operations of the business, allowing Jack to be out in the orchards on busy weekends.
The Hanselmann’s have made amazing improvements and came up with some delicious new concoctions, including cider donut whoopie pies (sometimes with ice cream), refillable buckets of donuts, cider slushies and more! We can’t wait to see what they’ll think of next!
Sustainability
We use biodiesel in some of our vehicles, we have a solar panel array on our barn roof, we encourage customers to bring reusable bags. We practice crop rotation and cover cropping and are currently in the process of establishing multiple pollinator plantings. We will continue to follow practices that support the success of this farm now and for future generations.
In 2015 we started using biodiesel in our two John Deere tractors and Kubota RTV.
In 2016 we received a Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant to help with the cost of the installation of a 20.14KW solar photovoltaic array on the barn roof to offset our electricity needs.
In 2019 we started selling sturdy canvas bags with our logo on them. Customers who opt to use these canvas bags, or bring their own bags or other containers get a discount on their purchase of pick-your-own apples.
We currently rotate our corn maze and squash/pumpkin plantings among four fields on the farm. When not planted to a crop, all fields are planted to cover crops to increase soil health. New apple tree plantings are mulched with hardwood chips to discourage rodents, conserve moisture, increase soil bioactivity, and help with weed control. We follow integrated pest management (IPM) strategies to limit pesticide use and efficiently control orchard pests and diseases.
In 2023 we received a grant through NRCS to establish pollinator habitats in a few areas of the farm. We are prepping those sites and will plan our perennial pollinator mixes in the Fall of 2024.
