Brown focuses on discovering "lost" heirloom apple varietals in North Carolina and throughout Appalachia.

[2] A chemical engineer at one time employed by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Brown retired from his job in the late 1990s.

[3][4] Brown first encountered heritage apples at a stand run by Maurice Marshall at a farmer's market in 1998.

[5] Brown also displays rare apple varieties at events, such as farmer's markets, in Appalachia each year,[5] where he receives information from attendees about locations for him to investigate.

[4] Brown cultivates heirloom varieties at his own orchard, including Royal Lemon, Night Dropper, and Rabun Bald.