Those who live in Maine know autumn offers families a time to participate in the time-honored tradition of apple picking.

Perhaps no one knows this tradition better than Richard Randall, owner of Randall’s Orchard in Standish.

“This farm and orchard has been in my family for more than 100 years,” said Randall.

In 1906, Randall’s grandfather Edgar Randall, operated the farm as a dairy farm not an orchard. Although the farm had several apple trees Edgar focused on milk and butter that he brought to Portland and sold.

During World War II when the United States government started rationing butter, Edgar Randall began to lose money and looked to his farm for other options.

“He had very loyal customers,” said Richard Randall. “And he wanted to make sure they were taken care of in some way.”

Edgar planted more apple trees, and started working the farm as an orchard.

Richard’s father, Rufus, continued on with the orchard building a large following.

Today, Richard Randall owns and operates the farm and has made his orchard into an industry.

Randall’s is one of the largest wholesale apple distributors in Maine. Randall’s cider and apples can be found at Hannaford grocery stores across the state.

“Our cider is the best,” said Randall. “Because we use an original press from the turn of the century, it is all done by hand, and all natural. The only thing that goes into our cider is apples.”

For the pickers, Randall’s Orchard boasts more than 10,000 trees on more than 100 acres. Fourteen of those trees are original trees his grandfather planted in the early 1900s.

This year, orchards from all over New England are reporting crop loss due to the wet weather. Although Randall lost some trees to drowning, and his trees are not as full as usual it will affect the picking season.

“Our wholesale season might not go as long as we prefer,” said Randall. “But we have plenty for the pickers.”

The farm, located on Randall Road off Route 25 in Standish, is open every day and offers gourds and pumpkins of all sizes, wagon rides for the kids and plenty of apple cider.