Woodstock Orchards accuses hot air balloon company of stealing apples

Woodstock Orchards LLC, a family-owned business in Connecticut, has accused CT Voyagers, a hot air balloon touring agency, of repeatedly harvesting fruit from its trees during flights. In a social media post, the orchard claimed that a balloon descended low enough for passengers to reach out and pluck apples, causing damage to the trees in the process.

The orchard stated this was the second such incident, expressing frustration that the actions impact their livelihood. While the owners noted they enjoy the presence of balloons in the sky, they emphasized that viewing the scenery does not grant permission to take crops or damage property.

A representative for CT Voyagers described the situation as a “misunderstanding.” The company noted that a previous incident several years ago involved a passenger tossing apples to those in the balloon, but maintained that the current dispute stems from a sudden change in wind direction that brought the vessel over the orchard.