Most of us know the old adage that says the apple rarely falls far from the tree, but some of us know it better than others.

Take Myriam Belot-Edwards, for example, who left her office administration career seven years ago to take over and transform her family’s Eastern Ontario apple farm, Kilmarnock Orchard, into a popular tourism destination.

“You can’t make any money just selling apples,” said Belot-Edwards, who jokingly calls herself the company’s “branch manager.”

Belot-Edwards runs Kilmarnock Orchard (www.kilmarnockorchard.ca) on 45 acres on the scenic Island of Kilmarnock alongside the historic Rideau Canal near Smiths Falls.

An 80-year-old orchard previously owned by two other families, the property was bought 27 years ago by Belot-Edward’s father Louis Belot, an architect and civil engineer who was looking to do something different with his retirement.

“We all laughed at him because he didn’t know anything about apples,” said Belot-Edwards.

Belot, who passed away in July, took agricultural courses at nearby Kemptville College and learned what he needed to run the orchard.

Since 1981, the orchard has gone from growing three types of apples to 20 types and from having 300 apple trees to 3,600. Kilmarnock Orchard is also now known for far more than its fruit.

Six years ago, Belot-Edwards launched an apple festival on the property, which she co-owns with her three siblings Jean Louis Belot, Jean Paul Belot and Isabelle Belot-Graveline. Although she’s taken a break from holding the festival for the last two years, it has brought as many as 5,000 revelers at a time and has raised tens of thousands of dollars for local charities.

Despite invitations from grocery stores to sell Kilmarnock apples through them, the orchard continues to sell all its products onsite through its store and a pick-your-own service.

“Supplying to other stores becomes very costly, if you start figuring out the cost of grading the apples, then sorting them into a four-quart basket, then shipping them,” Belot-Edwards said.

Photo: Myriam Belot-Edwards, of Kilmarnock Orchard, leads a school tour of her family’s Eastern Ontario apple business

The orchard also offers extensive outdoor education seminars to local school groups.

“It’s a big hit,” said Belot-Edwards. “I am fully booked until Oct. 8.”
Through its on-site store, Kilmarnock Orchard sells its own cider, apple jellies, apple pie, apple caramel pie, apple strudel, apple crisp, apple muffins, and apple bread.

It also sells foods made by local companies, and local chefs regularly visit to show how to cook and prepare their products.

There are also guided weekend walking tours and weddings facilities onsite.

While the success of the apple business is at the whim of nature, Belot-Edwards said this has been a great growing season for Kilmarnock Orchard and she expects business to boom for several more weeks.

It doesn’t hurt, she said, that the orchard is nestled between several fair-sized communities, including Ottawa, Smiths Falls, Brockville, Perth and Kemptville.

“I don’t need to sell my apples anywhere else,” she said.
Chuck Hudson, economic development officer for the Town of Smiths Falls, said Kilmarnock Orchard is a great business to have in the region.

“It provides both a locally-grown food benefit and a tourism benefit,” Hudson said. “Kilmarnock Orchard is just one more terrific reason to visit this area"

For more information:

• Kilmarnock Orchards -- www.kilmarnockorchard.ca

Also see:

• Team Ontario East to Represent Region at Annual Ethnic and Specialty Food Show

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