Many farms across northeastern North America still have old rail fences and stone field borders lined with feral fruit trees, such as apple, plum, pear, that sprang up naturally over time. These wild trees, often seen as useless or even harmful by past agricultural experts, may actually offer farmers an overlooked opportunity. Beyond supporting wildlife and helping with soil health, pest control, and pollination, trees in these hedges can also produce unique, local ingredients, like wild apple jelly, for small-scale farm gate sales.

In this commentary published in the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, biologists at Trent University argue against removing these hedgerows to create larger fields, and instead advocating for them as a potential source of both biodiversity and income, especially for farms on less productive land.