Apples are cultivated around the world, but in Australia, Batlow is where the best ones grow.
Batlow is a historical agricultural town in Australia that was originally discovered by Europeans for gold, but farmers then found that a variety of crops were suitable for this climate. Apples have been cultivated and traded there since 1922. My hubby grew up in Batlow and this is where I lived when I first moved with him in this beautiful country. It could almost feel like being in Canada sometimes, as the town is surrounded by snowy mountain views in winter, pine forest plantations and apple orchards. Not every region of Australia would be cultivating cold climate fruits like apples and berries along with stone fruit in the warmer seasons. Even if the apple season starts in April, life in Batlow has many similarities to the little town where I grew up in Québec. I also lived in the Montreal region for many years where the apple season, in September, is the perfect time to go for a drive from the island to the “pick your own apples” orchards. It is a popular activity to do on weekends and an amazing way to enjoy the sunny days of early autumn before the long winter ahead. After filling up a bag of McIntosh, you hit a hiking trail or local shops or enjoy a meal at some local cafés. Things are a bit different in Batlow, and rarely do orchardists let visitors pick their own fruits, but it does happen sometimes. As a commercial enterprise, the trees are generally much younger I believe this could risk damaging the following year's crop.
Mouats Farm orchard and apples • Photography © Annemarie Bolduc 2016-18
One of the massive bushfires in Australia from the end of 2019 to early 2020 came across the region and Batlow suffered a terrible nightmare in early January. Described “un-defendable” at some point, the town survived and the scale of the damage was reduced by the great work of the firefighters and volunteers. Sadly, an enormous amount of fruit crops were burnt, and damages occurred in almost all of the orchards. That is a significant loss as the town was providing more than half a percentage of the apple production in New South Wales. The Dunn’s Road fire has devastated not only orchards but many farms, properties, public buildings, livestock, pine forests, and wildlife, and one person lost his life from a heart attack defending a mate's house. While Batlow was still recovering, came the apple-picking season… and the Covid-19 pandemic. Social distancing measures brought a second crisis for the region in the same year and Batlow Ciderfest, the town’s street party happening in May, was then cancelled. It took time to recover, but things have progressed very well.
Celebrating the Batlow apple harvest season • Photography © Annemarie Bolduc 2019-21
GROWING & COOKING TIPS
On a happier note, apple varieties that I’ve discovered here and that became my favourites (Greenstar, Jonathan and Pink Ladies) were still available after the fires and we have been keeping on supporting local producers by buying some fruit and other products. Apples are full of antioxidants, vitamins and dietary fibres. I’ve never grown apples myself, but I did look after some trees when living in Batlow, and a few important things to monitor here are weather conditions, pests and birds! In Australia, orchards are covered with netting to save the crop from hail damage, but also, many cheeky parrots and other wild birds hang there to feast on the sweet fruits. Producers can store apples in a controlled atmosphere coolroom for 12 months so people can buy them all year long. Apples are best fresh, but they're great in juice, desserts, and so many dishes.
Check out some of my apple recipes and inspirations: