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Home >> About Us
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The Traas family moved from The Netherlands to
Ireland in the late 1960's to grow fruit. The Traas family had been
growing fruit in Holland since the 1800's, but because it was difficult
to find new land there for fruit-growing, Willem and Ali decided to
make a move to Ireland. They looked at a number of farms, and decided
on the one where The Apple Farm is now situated, between Cahir and
Clonmel on the main Limerick-Waterford road. There was an old orchard
on the farm, and they judged by the good crop they saw on these trees,
that apples could be grown in this area. For the first few years, as
well as establishing new apple and plum orchards, the family grew
tulips, dried peas, grain crops and strawberries.
Because there was no structure to enable them to sell their fruit
locally, they opened a shop at the farm in the early 1970's. It is the
same barn that they use to this day to sell most of what they produce
from 40 acres of fruit.
These days the produce on sale is quite diverse. 60 varieties of apples
are grown on the farm, and about 15 types are available in the farm
shop depending on when they ripen. Four varieties of strawberries,
three of raspberry, four of cherry, three types of plums, and two pears
compliment the range in the farm shop, again depending on when they
ripen. Some of the strawberries are available as pick-your-own in the
middle of summer.
In addition, a range of juices have been made on the farm since 1995.
There is apple juice, mixtures including strawberry, raspberry, and
blackcurrant juices, and some sensational sparkling juices also. These
are all made using fruits grown right there.
Fruits from the farm are also used to make jams, jelly and cider
vinegar.
When asked about future plans for expanding the product range Con Traas
replies: "There are traditional varieties of apples I would like more
of, and also some great new types. I would love to make cider and even
apple brandy, but for the moment I am quite busy with what we have".
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