Fruit lovers got a taste of how a local apple orchard is run during a tour of Thornbrook Orchard on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The owners of the Nashdale property opened the doors to the public as part of the Orange Regional Museum’s Paddock to Plate: a history of food and wine in the Orange district exhibition.
Paula Charnook took visitors on a tour of the orchard while she talked them through the production process.
“It’s an opportunity for the public to see how much is involved in getting the fruit from the tree to when they can buy it,” Mrs Charnook said.
“I hope that by getting to see the process they’ll get an understanding of how much goes into it.”
Working alongside her sister and brother-in-law Erica and Paul Eccleston, Mrs Charnook is a third generation orchardist.
Her parents Janet and Arthur Treweek have run the business together for almost 50 years, after taking over from Mr Treweek’s father.
During that time, Thornbrook Orchard has expanded its operations to include a greater variety of apples.
Mrs Charnook said this allowed them to sell smaller quantities more often, rather than in bulk.
“Walking through the paddock we can see the different trees and different ways things grow,” she told visitors.
Bruce and Stacey Ivery said they attended the tour to see what the family business looked like.
“It’s good to get the information straight from the horse’s mouth,” Mr Ivery said.
In the years Mrs Treweek has grown apples, she said the biggest change has been the automation of production.
“In the old days you’d bring the fruit inside in a timber box which you’d carry off the tractor, pack it with paper by hand, nail the lid shut, carry the box again to the truck, then truck it to Nashdale station before it would be on the train to Sydney,” she said.
Mrs Treweek said that while Thornbrook fared better than some in recent dry times, it had been a difficult season.
“You’re never fully in control, mother nature is, and you have to learn to live with her,” Mrs Treweek said.
“If you can’t you might as well walk away. She’s the boss.”
Having tasted more apples than most will in a lifetime, Mrs Treweek said she favours her produce as a humble stewed fruit, “usually with a bit of cream or ice cream”.