Prince County orchard owner
Canada: Apple season best in memory
Balsom, the owner of Prince County’s Arlington Orchard, said this year’s crop is the best in his operation’s 21-year history. He has 35 acres of apples and, with the operation’s plums and pears, more than 50 acres of fruit in production as part of his orchard. Currently, he has close to 30 different varieties of apples and several varieties of pears.
Initially, there were worries the crop might be in jeopardy, as a late snow blanketed the orchard, meaning workers weren’t able to prune its trees until mid April, putting the vital component of the operation more than a month behind schedule.
“We pruned right until we were in bloom. But with the dry, dry spring... the disease pressure on the orchard was extremely low,” noted Balsom. “There was lots of moisture in the ground and we did get rain. It came at the latter end of the summer and that was just enough to pump up the apples into a nice size.”
That made for perfect growing conditions.
“This is the best crop of apples, pears and plums I have ever grown in my life.”
An apple orchard’s biggest enemy is tree fungus. Luckily, constant pruning coupled with the dry spring prevented any fungus problems for Balsom.
“That’s why we prune the trees – we want to get proper airflow going through,” he added. “We want to see those leaves dry out as quick as we can.”
Picking began Aug. 15 and is expected to continue through until the end of October.
Arlington Orchards also operates a large U-Pick, open daily to visitors and where, on weekends, visitors can enjoy wagon, apple slingshots, a corn maze and pony rides.
New this year are flower and pumpkin U-Picks, also open on weekends. Corn is also grown on site and the orchard is also home to Malpeque Bay Cider, a product Balsom introduced two years ago.
“The bottom line is good for us. Our customers are getting the U-pick (apple) price at about 65 cents per pound,” added Balsom. “When you come up here it is kind of like a party atmosphere.”
Demand at the U-Pick and the three fruit stands have been higher than most years.
The orchard also supplies product to farmers’ markets on the Island and numerous grocery stores throughout the Maritimes.
“The stores that we are supplying our apples with, it’s been a rush to keep up with demand so far,” said Balsom. “The price hasn’t moved much from last year. But the more volume you sell, the more money you make. It’s a fair price and I think consumers are getting a fairly good deal right now.”
Business has been so good in recent years that he has expanded his packaging facility to include a more modern packaging line. The facility is the only of its kind in the province to receive the seal of approval from the Canada Good Agriculture Practices, an independent auditing board that ensures Canadians get the highest standard of fruit produced.
Balsom estimated his orchard, the largest in the province, produces about a half-million pounds of fruit each year. When picking is done, remaining fruit will go into storage and some used to make apple cider.
During peak season, the operation employs upwards to 25 people — pickers, packagers, U-Pick grew, retain staff and delivery drivers.
Balsom admitted that’s a lot of people who depend on his business, one whose success is dependent on things often out of his control.
“Life is always full of its challenges. You certainly don’t sit around wondering when you are going to pick the apples. One hailstorm can ruin a season,” he added. “The apple gods have smiled on us this year. That’s pretty good.”
Source: journalpioneer.com
