2 minute read
Crunican Orchards
The Crunican brothers – (L-R) Philip, Alf and Peter – are growing more apples and serving more people at their roadside market.
MAKE A TRIP to the market
PUT A STOP AT CRUNICAN’S ON YOUR AUTUMN TO-DO LIST
By Ellen Ashton-Haiste
There are more than apples ‘on the grow’ these days at Crunican Orchards. After two years thriving during a pandemic business is continuing to pick up, says Philip Crunican, who, with brothers Peter and Alf, operates the four-generation family farm and market. “Our business grew rapidly during COVID,” says Crunican, describing that development as both surprising and welcome. “People found us and had the time to come and see us. And things took off in ways we hadn’t anticipated.”
As the trend continues, expansion has become necessary. “We’re growing more apples and we’ve had to expand our storage space,” he says. In the last 10 years, 15 to 16 acres of new young trees have been planted and are about to come into full production over the next year or two. “So, we definitely need more cooler space to store all these apples.”
The farm is north of London on Richmond Street North near Elginfield. It has continued to expand its produce since the first trees were planted by Crunican’s grandfather more than a century ago. It now offers more than 15 apple varieties, including Macintosh, Spy, Empire, Idared, Green and Red Delicious, Fuji, Mutsu, Ambrosia and Honeycrisp. This year they’re excited to add to the list a new late fall variety, called Crimson Crisp.
They also grow squash and pumpkins. They bring in peaches and plums from growers in the Blenheim area to sell at the roadside market.
More than the fresh fruit and apple products are drawing a growing clientele to the market. For more than 40 years, the onsite store has specialized in a wide variety of products from enterprises across the region. These range from Stonetown artisan cheese from St. Mary’s and Greaves jams and marmalade from Niagara-On-The-Lake to honey and maple syrup, pasta and sauces, dried beans, grains and seeds, plus many delectable snacks. “We’ve had tremendous support from the community wanting local goods and farm-to-table produce,” Crunican says.
