Climate, topography, proximity to market, soil, water, cost and availability of land, personal economics, knowledge and ambition were all basics that were considered. Orchards are best located on a hillside which allows cold air to roll off and settle in the valley or bottom land. With that exception, all other indicators were positive. It was hoped that lack of orchard knowledge would be overcome with study and exposure. If you plant the wrong type of pumpkins, tomatoes, corn or beans, next year you can plant something else and all you've lost is one year.
Orchards are different.
What you plant is what you harvest for years and years. Finally seventeen varieties of apples were chosen. We will not grow good-looking but bad tasting apples. Adaptability to our growing climate. For example, we lack about 20 growing days for growing the very popular Granny Smith apple.