Information that comes word of mouth and other growers' experiences can be of invaluable help when deciding on a nursery. Most nurseries realize that the best advertisement for their product is a satisfied customer. Talk to growers who have ordered from a nursery you do not know. Ask about the condition of trees on arrival and about problems in ordering or receiving the trees. It's also a good idea to visit the nursery, if at all possible.
Nurseries usually welcome anyone interested in their operation.
Another factor to consider before ordering trees is the nursery guarantee concerning survivability, quality, and trueness to name. Pennsylvania tree fruit nurseries that sell to commercial growers participate in the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Certification Program. These nurseries guarantee their trees to be true to name and free from all disease and insect problems. Some nurseries in other states also have their own certification programs. You would be wise to ask the nursery if it participates in a certification program.