What became of the Lewellings - the visionary brothers who transformed the American West one orchard at a time?

In the final episode of our six-part series, John and Patrick return to the verdant hills of Napa and the fertile valleys of Oregon to chart the triumphs and tragedies that defined the twilight of the Lewelling legacy.

As phylloxera silently strangles California’s vineyards, John Lewelling rises to the challenge with pioneering grafting techniques - only to fall to illness just as his wine career reaches its zenith. Meanwhile, Seth Lewelling’s quieter revolution unfolds in Oregon, where a towering Chinese laborer named Ah Bing helps bring a world-famous cherry to life - only to be cast out by America’s rising tide of anti-Chinese sentiment.

Through collapsing nurseries, bitter market failures, and political upheaval, we follow the final acts of these horticultural radicals and examine the seeds they planted in American agriculture, racial justice, and democratic reform.

Join John and Patrick as they say farewell to the Lewellings and uncover the roots of their enduring influence.

----------

In Sponsorship with Cornell University: Dyson Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

-----------

Join the History of Fresh Produce Club for ad-free listening, bonus episodes, book discounts and access to an exclusive chatroom community.

Support us!

• Share this episode with your friends
• Give a 5-star rating
• Write a review

-----------

Subscribe to our biweekly newsletter here for extra stories related to recent episodes, book recommendations, a sneak peek of upcoming episodes and more.

-----------

Step into history - literally! Now is your chance to own a pair of The History of Fresh Produce sneakers. Fill out the form here and get ready to walk through the past in style.

-----------

Instagram, TikTok, Threads:

@historyoffreshproduce

Email: [email protected]