Congrats on the new orchard, that’s exciting!
I’m in zone 7b/8a in the Southeast and am growing a few of these, but none have fruited yet, so not very much help here except to say one that didn’t do well for me.
Granny Smith couldn’t handle the heat and humidity here. One small tree I grafted myself died and another tree I purchased from somewhere else had a really bad canker like infection unlike anything I’ve seen on any other variety I’ve grown, and it was so bad I removed the tree.
Good luck with the new orchard!