Introducing Falun Dafa at the Apple Scrapple Festival

(Minghui.org) The 34th Apple Scrapple Festival was held in Bridgeville, Delaware, on October 9 and 10, 2026. Launched in 1992, the festival celebrates apples from local century-old orchards and products from RAPA, the world’s largest manufacturer of scrapple. According to the organizers, this major local event attracts nearly 20,000 visitors annually and hosts around 400 vendors from Delaware, New York, New Jersey, and Maryland.

Falun Dafa practitioners had a booth at the festival to introduce the spiritual practice. They taught the exercises, distributed flyers, and collected signatures calling on leaders of the House of Representatives to schedule a vote on Bill S.4009 as soon as possible.

Practitioners demonstrate the exercises at the 34th Apple Scrapple Festival. (Minghui.org)

Visitors learn about Falun Dafa and the persecution in China. (Minghui.org)

The Falun Gong and Victims of Forced Organ Harvesting Protection Act, which was jointly introduced by a bipartisan group of US senators, aims to impose sanctions on individuals involved in forced organ harvesting. The bill, S.4009, was passed in the Senate on September 28, 2026, and has now been sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Previously, the House unanimously passed a related companion bill, the Falun Gong Protection Act (H.R.1540), in May 2025.

People sign a petition urging the leader of the US House of Representatives to schedule a vote for Bill S.4009. (Minghui.org)

Candidate Praises Practitioners’ Efforts

Michael Ramone, a Republican candidate for Delaware State Treasurer, took a group photo with practitioners at the Apple Scrapple Festival. (Minghui.org)

Michael Ramone, a Republican candidate for Delaware State Treasurer and a former State Representative, visited the Falun Dafa practitioners’ booth. He is a long-time supporter of their efforts to expose the persecution. He sponsored the Delaware House Concurrent Resolution 143 (HCR 143) in 2024, which condemns the forced organ harvesting in China.

He talked with practitioners, condemned the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting from Falun Dafa practitioners, and called for an end to it. He told the practitioners at the booth, “Your steadfast effort in carrying out this peaceful protest year after year is truly admirable.”

Ramon noted that public awareness of this issue in Delaware is growing exponentially and highly praised their face-to-face approach to raise awareness: “You tell one or two people. Once they understand the issue and get enthusiastic, they go on to tell others, and the movement keeps expanding and gaining momentum. This method is truly effective.”

Event-Goers Try the Falun Dafa Exercises

Many visitors stopped at the Falun Dafa booth and tried the exercises. They also learned about the CCP’s persecution of human rights.

A wife and husband learn the Falun Dafa exercises. (Minghui.org)

Sam Kratohwill (right) tries the Falun Dafa exercises. (Minghui.org)

After high school student Sam Kratohwill tried the exercises, he said, “I feel warm and relaxed.” “I didn’t expect that such a simple sitting meditation can let me feel so relaxed.” He said he would look into Falun Dafa.

After learning about the CCP’s persecution and forced organ harvesting, Sam said it was heartbreaking. He said, “No one should have to endure what they are currently going through. I completely oppose this whole situation. It is absolutely appalling.”

He praised the practitioners for their efforts to raise awareness: “Their dedication is great... In the United States, we enjoy freedom of religion and speech. We are free to explore and learn whatever we wish. I deeply appreciate the practitioners here for sharing the issue and showing us the Falun Dafa exercises.”

People Sign the Petition to End the Persecution

Sandy O’Reilly (right) and her mother (Minghui.org)

“I’ve learned about communist China here which is very meaningful, and I intend to look into it further,” said retired dental professional Sandy O’Reilly. Having previously read reports about the persecution and forced organ harvesting, she condemned these atrocities and said they were absolutely horrific.

She signed the petition and said, “I hope people will look at the wider world and broaden their views rather than limiting themselves to their own personal circles. I signed the petition because I hope that lawmakers listen to the public’s voice and that more people will know about this issue.”

Jordan Dorsey at the event (Minghui.org)

Jordan Dorsey, an undergraduate student, condemned the CCP’s persecution. He said, “The immediate priority is to raise public awareness, make sure more people know about the issue and take action. So we can pool our ideas and prevent such tragedies from recurring.”

He also commended practitioners for their persistent efforts: “This is crucial and is profoundly significant. Anyone who lives under oppression and is unable to speak for themselves needs someone to speak up on their behalf.”