There are plenty of reasons to love our local apples

story by Emily Worts, photography by Jessica Crandlemire

There is a deformed tree that grows in the centre of our front lawn. It is an unfortunate-looking tree you can’t help but notice; in fact, it is impossible not to duck to avoid its reaching limbs when using our front walkway. The previous owner wanted to chop it down, arborists have told us it isn’t worth saving, and friends have told us it’s ugly. But every spring after its white blossoms fall, my boys and I begin watching anxiously for the first small apples to appear. We count them off with excitement and anticipation.

“We’ve got one!” “Look mom, there’s two!” “Can you believe this year there’s three!” We watch mid-summer as the apples take on a rosy blush and each fall we harvest our ‘crop’ of one or two apples before the squirrels beat us to it. We have our own Giving Tree in our front yard, and as I watch our boys climb its branches and as I cut our small harvests into equal portions to share, our tree is anything but ugly.

That said, as I have to be honest in this column, if there were not apples on those branches, its utility as a climbing apparatus might not be enough to save this tree from the saw.

In Southern Georgian Bay, apples are a part of who we are. We identify ourselves by them on the tourist maps (Apple Pie Trail), we ritually and faithfully visit apple stands and markets that sell dozens of varieties, and we all have our favourite recipe (or favourite bakery) for the perfect apple pie. Apples have been thriving, on a commercial scale, in this area for over 150 years. The deep waters of Nottawasaga Bay combined with the protective shield of the Niagara Escarpment create our own microclimate perfect for growing apples.

Decoding apples, their names, attributes and seasons can be a daunting task for those used to a supermarket selection based on colour alone (red, green or yellow). When I am baking a crisp I’m never sure if I should use the same apple I send in school lunches. And what apple should I be making apple sauce with for my roasted loin of pork? Which apple is best for crunch, tartness, low acidity, storing, etc.? The questions are endless and this is one of the advantages of buying directly from the grower. They know exactly what they have been nurturing and are more than happy to share their wisdom. Certain apples, like the Idared, keep their flavour and shape when baking. Other apples like the Cortland tend not to brown after cutting and are therefore great for salads or kids’ lunches. Some varieties like Honeycrisp and Red Prince have become darlings, reaching superstar status, and draw fans from across the globe to this area. And some, like the McIntosh … well you just can’t go wrong with a Mac. Every McIntosh apple can trace its heritage to a single tree, discovered by John McIntosh in 1811 (the apple recently celebrated its 200th anniversary) in Dundas County, Ontario. You can’t beat that.

As apple connoisseurs we revel in the texture, flavour, shape and colour of this fundamental fruit. Often unknowingly, we are also doing our bodies and minds a whole lot of good while sinking our teeth into the apple’s crunchy flesh. Many of us are familiar with, and adhere to, the old Welsh proverb, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” but what does this really mean? Year after year apples are ranked as one of the top superfoods (often they come in first place) as they are rich in antioxidants, flavonoids and fibre. Apples can help reduce the risks of cancer, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. Apples can help improve neurological health, prevent dementia, reduce the risk of a stroke, lower levels of bad cholesterol and aid digestion. The list of benefits for the common apple goes on and on but best just to keep that old adage at the front of your mind when thinking about what kind of snack you want to pick up and gobble down.
Choosing an apple over almost any other snack will do you a world of good. It’s important to note that many studies suggest that much of what is good in an apple comes from eating the skin, so make sure you give it a thorough wash (using some vinegar to remove any pesticides or contaminants) and avoid peeling away all the good stuff.

As a mother, one of my favourite qualities of the apple is that it acts as nature’s toothbrush. If we are camping or visiting friends and someone forgets a toothbrush, it’s good to know I can rely on the apple in the cooler to do the job. The crunchy, firm flesh stimulates the gums and the naturally occurring fruit acid in apples actually cleans the teeth. I’m sure my dentist wouldn’t recommend this on a regular basis, but in a life of choosing my battles, this is one I let my boys win from time to time

It feels silly giving the ‘sell’ on the apple. It is one of the first fruits we eat as babies and you would be hard pressed to find a fruit bowl void of an apple. They taste good and as a recognized superfood, we can feel good about eating them. In the fall I like to use apples wherever and whenever I can. Gnarly roadside apples from long-forgotten trees are one of our favourite road trip snacks. We forgive the fruits’ blemishes in exchange for the feeling of ‘discovery’ and the sense of history these offerings bring. What homestead were these a part of? What bird decided to drop a seed here? How old is this tree and how many kids have climbed its branches?

There is just something about an apple tree that inspires devotion. Just like the one in our front yard.

 

Apple Country!

Support our local orchards

On The Bay is pleased to provide this guide to local apple orchards and purveyors. Not all orchards are open to the public. Please call, email or check websites before visiting.

Al Ferri & Sons
2735 Concession 10 N.
Collingwood
705-444-2133
www.huttonville.com/alferriandsons/

Almond’s Farm Market
206663 Hwy. 26
Meaford
519-538-2281

Appletop Organic Farm
416476 10th Line
Clarksburg
519-599-6177
gbos@bmts.com

Barbetta Orchards Ltd.
245703 Sideroad 22
Meaford
519-538-2206
johnston@bmts.com
www.barbettaorchards.ca

Bay Growers Inc.
828114, Grey Rd.
Clarksburg
519-599-7568
www.baygrowers.com

Bay Ridge Orchards Ltd.
158198 7th Line
Meaford
519-538-1405

Beaver Valley Orchard and Cidery
235853 Beaver Valley Road
Kimberley
519-599-1001
www.bvcider.ca

Bev Murray Farms
145816 Grey Rd 12
Meaford
519-538-3592

Blue Mountains Cider
496532 Grey Rd 2
Clarksburg
519-599-6426
contact@bluemountainscider.ca
bluemountainscider.ca

C & C Knott’s Orchard
496290 Grey Rd 2
Clarksburg
705-443-1814
cknott@georgian.net

Dykstra’s Orchards
262 Clark Street
Clarksburg
519-599-9938
dykstraorchards@gmail.com
www.dykstraorchards.com

End of the Rainbow Orchard
RR#1
Clarksburg
519-599-2095

The Farmer’s Pantry
788030 Grey Rd 13
Clarksburg
519-599-3691
farmerspantry@grey13.ca
www.farmerspantry.com

Finch Haven Orchards
416241 10th Line
Clarksburg
519-599-7775
info@finchhavenorchards.com
www.finchhavenorchards.com

Four Wheel Farm
Creemore Hills, ON
www.fourwheelfarm.ca

Gallagher’s Orchard
7674 Nottawa Sideroad West
Nottawa
705-445-6472

Giffen’s Country Market & Glen Huron Apples
55 Station Street
Glen Huron
705-466-3080
www.giffens.ca

Goldsmith’s
207600 Hwy 26 W.
Thornbury
519-599-3246
kyle@goldsmithsmarket.com
www.goldsmithsmarket.com

Grandma Lambe’s
206580 Hwy 26 W.
Meaford
519-538-2757
grandmalambes@yahoo.ca
www.grandmalambes.com

Grandma Lambe’s
317235 Hwy 6 & 10
Chatsworth
519-794-3852
grandmalambes@yahoo.ca
www.grandmalambes.com

Harvest Glen Farm Market
55 Station St.
Glen Huron
705-466-3080

Jones Willowgrove Orchards
496818 Grey Rd. 2
Clarksburg
519-599-3668

Maxwell Orchards
PO Box 251
Clarksburg
519-599-3682

McEachern & Sons Orchards
3303 County Road 124
Collingwood
705-445-9606

Meesters Farms
2697 Concession 10 North
Nottawa
705-445-3768

Oaklane Orchards Ltd.
496445 Grey Rd 2
Clarksburg
519-599-5841
oaklane@bell.net

Oakley’s Field Fresh
125 King St. Hwy 26
Thornbury
705-444-9060
kyle@oakleysfieldfresh.com

R & R Orchard
RR. 2
Clarksburg
519-599-3542

Redpath Orchards
4377 Hwy 24
Nottawa
705-445-4125

T & K Ferri Orchards
496415 Grey Road 2
Clarksburg
519-599-3977
info@tkferriorchards.com
tkferriorchards.com

Vail’s Orchards
205654 Hwy. 26
Meaford
519-538-4474
bpvail@sympatico.ca