Location

Norm and Fred McCaw live at 1071 Harrington Road, R.R.#2, Frankford. They used to be dairy farmers but now rear beef cattle, cash crop and growing soft fruit, apples and vegetables. They took over West Moira Orchards on the 537 Moira Street West in October 2007 from Kurt and Karen Kaiser. The Roadside store is on the south side of West Moira Road and the 100 acre farm is on the north side.

The Kaisers bought the farm in 1981 and opened the market garden for business in 1984. They opened the roadside store in 1993.

The farm is laid out with a number of different plots, which can be irrigated from a pond in the centre. There are apple trees, a large area of strawberries, high bush blueberries (ripe between July 15 – September 1), raspberries, purple raspberries and fall raspberries (ripe between September 1 – September 30 or first frost), tomatoes (ripe between August 15 – September 30), corn, peppers, beets, spring and fall wheat and a variety of different types of potatoes.

During the strawberry season, which runs approximately from June 21 – July 8 the farm is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Once the strawberries are finished, the farm closes on Sundays.

You can either pick your own at the farm or go to the roadside store. The store is open seven days a week from June to Hallowe’n, from 9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you go regularly you will find vegetables in season.

They will have corn in the store from July 17 until October; raspberries for July 15 – August 1; yellow and green beans from July 20 – September; Spanish onions August 10 – October 31; watermelons and cantaloupe August – October, a variety of potatoes from July 10 – October; squash September and October; and sweet potatoes; September and October.

They will have apples from August 1 through until the end of October including Paula Red, McIntosh, Spartan, Empire and Macoun apples. Macoun are less common. They have green skin with dark red blushes and stripes and the crisp flesh is juicy and sweet.

You can buy fresh peas from Prince Edward County at the store, peaches delivered fresh from Niagara, and frozen fruits, vegetables, pies and desserts.

They also have local honey, fudge, maple syrup cheese curds cookies and tarts.

You don’t have to defrost the pies. Pre heat the oven to 400 F and bake for 40 – 50 minutes until the pastry is golden brown. Cool completely before slicing. Apple pies require 50 – 60 minutes for baking until tender.

537 Moira Street West Belleville, On K8N2Z