Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Apples, Squash and Pumpkins

It's not just the coloured leaves that mark fall, it's also apples, squash and pumpkins around here.  The Meaford/Clarksburg area is Ontario's premier apple growing area because of its unique combination of soil and micro-climate characteristics.  It's all an old glacial beach from Lake Algonquin providing well-drained soil, and the cool waters of Georgian Bay delay spring blossom time until after the risk of frost is over.

So we would never think of just buying our apples in a grocery store, and we don't just buy 'apples' either, we buy Galas, Honey Crisps, Russets and other varieties that we enjoy, at one of several local orchards.

The Vail family were among the first white settlers in the area, first settling at Vail's Point, now subsumed by the tank range.  But today they grow 300 acres of apples, using a team of 35 Jamaican farm workers, most of whom return year after year.  One of our friends works for a few weeks every year at the orchard.

These are Honey Crisp 'seconds', a much more reasonable price and just as good.  This was what we bought this time.  Honey Crisp are the most expensive apple these days, at up to $75.00 a bushel!

I think these were Galas.  Seconds are usually just a little smaller, which I prefer anyway.

They've also got lots of squash.  These big apple boxes look full, but actually there's a board just about 6" down, so they're really just piled on top.

More squash and small pumpkins for making pie - for those who prefer to make it from absolute scratch!

 Lots of big pumpkins too for Hallowe'en.  More of those tomorrow.  Hope you had a happy and peaceful Thanksgiving; we did.




13 comments:

  1. 300 acres, that is massive. I grew up on a 100 acre farm, and now here in NZ that would be much too small to manage or make/ eke out a living with a dairy herd. Sadly, that farm is now divided into VERY expensive lifestyle blocks with homes that are luxurious, security gateways, and more. Those apples, Gala are a favourite here too.

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  2. This whole area used to be devoted to fruit orchards, relying on the good rail connection to London to get the fruit to Convent Garden Market. There are still a few growers selling their produce through farm shops.

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  3. Lovely photographs.
    We like Gala apples …

    All the best Jan

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  4. The apples are a welcome sight to see!

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  5. Honey Crisps are our favorites.
    Fall is a great time of year!!

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  6. Gala apples are my all time favorite. I also like Fuji apples! Love your great pictures. :-)

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  7. You are an apple expert and have the choices to go with it.

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  8. That's quite a price for those Honey Crisps. I recently paid $12 for a "you pick" bushel of Macs at a local orchard. A few years ago they were charging $2 a bushel for Mac drops and those apples weren't bruised at all.

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  9. Beautiful! One of my neighbours is selling heritage varieties of apples! I went by looking for Spys, but he has totally sold out.

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  10. This is a wonderful place to visit. You took some great photos.

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  11. It's a colour FEST! :)
    I enjoy Gala apples too and the price is right for me. Right now, I'm eating Ridge apples. teehee

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  12. I eat an apple every day but not the conventional way. I quarter them and put them in my morning breakfast shake with a banana, lettuce, carrots, celery, cinnamon, and whey powder. To that I add skim milk then hit the switch on the blender. With all those pumpkins, squash, and apples up your way it is looking very Autumny. This is always just the greatest time of year.

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