An Apple a Day
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An Apple a Day The Story of Ballyhoura Apple Farm and Vinegar Vault ISBN 978-0-9524931-9-8 Published by Bruhenny Press in April 2020 An Apple a Day… Welcome to Ballyhoura Apple Farm which was established in 2006. Ballyhoura Apple Farm is based in the Munster Vales in ancient Kilfinane at the foothills of the Ballyhoura Mountains in south east county Limerick. Our orchard is located on the edge of the town and our Vinegar Vault, Production, Distribution and Administrative offices are all located in the town itself at Ballyhoura Artisan Food Park. Our most popular product is our raw Irish Apple Cider Vinegar which is now sold in 350 shops throughout Ireland. Our Apple Cider Vinegar is made from 100% undiluted Irish apple juice which undergoes a double fermentation process. This produces enzymes and preserves many of its health-promoting characteristics. You can read all about all our other juice products and our awards on pages 12 and 13 of this booklet. As our business has grown over the years we supplement our own five acre orchard by also purchasing best quality Irish grown apples and so all our juices and Apple Cider Vinegar are made exclusively with Irish grown apples. We hope you enjoy reading the story of Ballyhoura Apple Farm and enjoy our wholesome juices and Apple Cider Vinegar. Sláinte. Gerry Murphy and Maurice Gilbert Cover: taken by Dominic Lee at Ballyhoura Apple Farm on 7 July 2007. 1 2 An April view at Ballyhoura Apple Farm The Story of Ballyhoura Apple Farm Ballyhoura Apple Farm started life in the parish of Churchtown in north county Cork in 2006 when Gerry Murphy and Maurice Gilbert planted 1,000 apple trees to create their hobby ‘vineyard’. The project was conceived by Gerry as a tribute to the tradition of apple cultivation in the Churchtown area, which was developed in the 1700s by the Taylor family. It also contributed to Gerry’s vision of investment in the local community aimed at driving sustainable rural regeneration. In 2007 Maurice and Gerry planted a further 1,500 trees and in 2008 they planted an additional 2,500 trees. With the collapse of the construction sector in Ireland in 2010 Maurice, who trained as a master carpenter, moved to working full time on the apple farm developing a range of award winning apple juice products. Two of Maurice’s early signature juices included Red Mulled Apple Juice aimed at the Christmas market and Gilbert Murphy Hot Friskey. In the autumn of 2013 Gerry and Maurice decided that Ballyhoura Apple Farm had the potential to be more than a hobby. 3 A May blossom view at Ballyhoura Apple Farm Unable to get planning permission for a visitor centre in Churchtown, Gerry and Maurice decided to move the orchard to lands outside Kilfinane that they had originally purchased for potential residential housing development. In early 2014, in a Herculean move, the entire 5,000 apple trees were transported 22km from Churchtown to Kilfinane. Over 95% of the trees survived the replanting. In 2014 a new company was formed to develop the apple farm and its range of juice products. This new company - Applewood Farm Produce Ltd – took over the trading name Ballyhoura Apple Farm. 4 In 2016 Applewood acquired the old semi-derelict Shannon Development industrial units at Captain’s Lane in Kilfinane as the headquarters and production facility for Ballyhoura Apple Farm. To give an example of the derelict condition of the site it cost €10,000 alone to remove trees and overgrowth from the site. The buildings acquired from Shannon Development were re-named Ballyhoura Artisan Food Park to reflect Maurice’s dream of also providing – in time – unique facilities for other local artisan food producers. Outdoor visitor area at Ballyhoura Apple Farm 5 Vinegar Vault at Ballyhoura Apple Farm In late 2016 Maurice’s ambition of making our own Apple Cider Vinegar became a reality when the first batch of 500 litres was produced at Ballyhoura Artisan Food Park. Vinegar has been used for thousands of years throughout the world and we are delighted to continue the tradition here at Ballyhoura Apple Farm in our own Vinegar Vault. We produce our Pure Irish Raw Apple Cider Vinegar with 100% undiluted apple cider which is magically transformed to cider vinegar whilst carefully nurturing the beneficial microbes known as ‘the Mother’. Raw, unpasteurised, unfiltered, naturally antibiotic and antibacterial is what makes our product so special. It is also here in the Vinegar Vault that our “Orleans” method Gilbert Murphy Irish Aged Cider Vinegar is aged to produce a “mellow” cider vinegar. 6 Ballyhoura Apple Farm values its roots in the local community and cherishes Ireland’s traditions of localism, co- operation, support and friendship. The fruit and vegetables used in Ballyhoura Apple Farm juices support other food producers in the local community and help to create and sustain local employment. One of our core objectives is to ensure that we make a fitting contribution to the community of which we are proud to be a part. 7 Visitor sampling area at Ballyhoura Apple Farm Maurice Gilbert, CEO, Ballyhoura Apple Farm 8 Before & After Applewood Farm Produce purchased the former Kilfinane Industrial Estate from Shannon Development in 2015 when it was in a semi derelict condition. Substantial improvements have been carried out as evidenced by the ‘before and after’ pictures. Units 1 and 2 now incorporating a tasting room, administration offices, meeting room and future test kitchen. Units 3 and 4 now house storage and production. These ‘Before and After’ photographs were taken from April 2015 to June 2016. The walled garden revealed after the foliage was removed came as a very pleasant surprise – it has proved a most restful and inspiring location for a local outdoor Yoga class. 9 10 11 Premium Products & Awards A Juices Awarding Body Award 1 Pure Apple Great Taste 1 Star Blas na hÉireann Best at Farmers Market 2 Apple Blackcurrant Blas na hÉireann Best at Farmers Market 3 Apple Beetroot Great Taste 1 Star 4 Applesnips Great Taste 1 Star 5 FRoot Great Taste 1 Star 6 Apple Seaweed Great Taste 1 Star 7 Green Mulled Apple Blas na hÉireann Silver - best new product 8 Red Mullled Apple Blas na hÉireann Silver - best new product 9 Apple Chai Iced Tea Great Taste 1 Star IFE London Top 100 New Products 10 Gilbert Murphy Hot Friskey Blas na hÉireann Gold IFE London Top 100 New Products 11 Apple & Nettle Juice Great Taste 1 Star 12 Apple, Tumeric & Black Pepper Great Taste 1 Star B Vinegars Awarding Body Award 13 Raw Apple Cider Vinegar 14 Gilbert Murphy Oak Spiced Vinegar Blas na hÉireann Shortlisted 15 FRoot Shrubs Vinegarism Great Taste 1 Star Blas na hÉireann Gold 16 Apple Chai Shrubs Great Taste 2 & 3 Stars 17 Red Mulled Shrubs Blas na hÉireann Shortlisted C Syrups / Dressings Awarding Body Award 18 Red Roast Syrup Mitchelstown Food Fair Best product 19 Atlantic Apple Syrup Blas na hÉireann Shortlisted Great Taste 1 Star 20 Mulled Apple Glazing Syrup Great Taste 1 Star 21 FRoot Shrubs Syrup Blas na hÉireann Gold Great Taste 1 Star 22 FRoot Gastrique Syrup Great Taste 1 Star 23 Spicy Apple Salad Dressing Blas na hÉireann Silver D Speciality 24 Farmhouse Cider Blas na hÉireann Shortlisted 12 Recent Awards Juices & Vinegars Awarding Body Award 2019 Apple and Beetroot Juice Great Taste Awards 1 star 2019 Red Mulled Shrubs Blas na hÉireann Shortlisted 2018 Apple Chai Shrubs Great Taste Awards 3 star 2018 Apple Juice Great Taste Awards 1 star 2017 Apple Chai Shrubs Great Taste Awards 2 star 2017 Apple Chai Juice Great Taste Awards 1 star 2017 Apple & Nettle Juice Great Taste Awards 1 star 2017 Apple, Tumeric & Black Pepper Great Taste Awards 1 star 2017 Farmhouse Cider Blas na hÉireann Shortlisted 2017 Gilbert Murphy Oak Spiced Vinegar Blas na hÉireann Shortlisted 2017 Apple Chai Shrubs Blas na hÉireann Shortlisted 2017 Best at Farmers Market / Chef’s Choice at Blas na hÉireann sponsored by Limerick LE 13 14 The Story of Apple Cider Vinegar Raw and unpasteurised, Apple Cider Vinegar contains what is known as the Mother culture, which makes the vinegar appear somewhat cloudy. It is the Mother that is full of raw enzymes and gut-friendly bacteria that promote health, healing and well-being. Our raw Apple Cider Vinegar is made from 100% pure undiluted apple juice which undergoes a double fermentation process. This produces enzymes and preserves many of its health-promoting characteristics. Although there is no prescribed way to consume Apple Cider Vinegar, normally people take 1 to 2 teaspoons a day mixed with tepid water, raw honey or fresh juice, in the morning or before meals, which is said to suppress the appetite. You can use Apple Cider Vinegar as a dressing for salads and vegetables or as a marinade to tenderise meat. Keep in mind that Apple Cider Vinegar must always be diluted. Traditional uses of Apple Cider Vinegar are vast. It is said to regulate pH balance as well as reduce inflammation, ease digestion, aid in flu prevention, alleviate allergy symptoms, ease nausea and heartburn, as a staple in detox regimens, and for a number of skin 15 conditions, including reducing acne and smoothing wrinkles. It is also said to be beneficial as a rinse after shampooing to promote a healthy scalp. If you want to avail of the benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar, the most effective way is to add 1 to 2 teaspoons of vinegar to one glass of tepid water and drink it before eating.