When I was home last month, I had the chance to stop by the apple farm. I had this crazy idea that they might sell non-pasturized apple cider there, and I somehow craved the tangy bite that disappears with high temperatures. Of course, this is evidence that I've been away from home too long. You can't sell non-pasteurized anything anymore it seems. But they still had some fine apples.The apple farm just outside of town has been family run since 1911. What started out as a small stand at the side of the road has turned into a thriving bakery attracting customers from throughout the region. I remember the apple farm being the only thing in the middle of nowhere. Suddenly, the nowhere has disappeared and the parking lot in the front is full.
One of the things I miss most about living in Southern Ontario is the vegetables. It seems like you can get local anything in abundance. My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I saw crate upon crate of fresh, sweet corn. In Germany, corn is still largely regarded as animal fodder, and when it is sold in the stores, it is often without the husk, in packs of 2 or 3, wrapped in plastic.
The apples weren't quite ready yet, but they did have a cooling room with a few 5 lb bags of fruit. What drew me into the store, however, was the smell of freshly baked apple products. Inside, I could see they were making apple cider donuts. I asked for the fresh ones, the ones that weren't allowed to cool for 10 minutes, coated in cinnamon sugar. As soon as I paid, I opened the box, and allowed that warm, tangy goodness to dissolve on my tongue. Part of me wanted more but part of me knew that my body would eventually rebel against being stuffed with sugar and fat.
Part of me wants to be around during the harvest season to have fresh apple pies, and maybe steal some cider before it gets pasturized. I already went snooping around the facilities & made a few friends there. Until I spend another fall back home, I'll have to make do with the preservative free cider, sparkling cider and cider donuts. I can manage with that.
If you're ever in the area:
Bennet's Apple Farm
944 Garner Road East, Ancaster, Ontario.
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6 comments:
I have never been to an apple farm--though God knows I have wanted very much. I am temporarily in San Diego--hopefully there will be a chance to go to an apple farm when I am back in boston this november. But your post reminded me of this long held desire once again..Thanks a lot
A
Sounds like paradise!
lol - my grandparents used to be appalled that we ate corn and turkeys. Who knew. I love harvest season out here...apples, pumpkins...there is something about the smell of a farm and the bite of cold air that makes a Canadian happy :)
Jhonny: I think any farm is fun, especially in Fall.
Amanda: I was pretty happy there ;-)
Cathy: I assume it was the Dutch side of the family that didn't get the corn, right? We get the harvest & such here, but you're right - I miss the bite of the cold air.
Apple orchards are huge in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, where my mother currently resides. Every fall she tortures me with loving descriptions of the (almost) simultaneous apple and vineyard harvest festivals.
This is my first year in Germany and I was wondering why there are fields upon fields of corn surrounding my town, but none in the stores. Now I know!
WBohemian: it makes it really hard to make stuff that calls for corn husks, and frankly, I'm not too certain why, in a country as environmentally aware as Germany, things are taken out of their biodegradable containers to be shrink-wrapped. I found some "good" corn at the local farm though!
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