FARMING in the Batlow district for almost 100 years is the Mouat family.
The Mouat Apple Farm has been a thriving business for all of that time first being started by the grandfather of the current owners Greg and Kris Mouat.
The forebears had actually migrated to Australia from Europe during the gold rush era of the 1850s and when the gold started to run out they went into farming – in particular apple orchards.
The farm has been passed down through three generations now and has been expanded by purchasing more land over the years.
The orchard is run as a ‘pick your own apples’ during the height of the apple harvesting but also has pickers come in when the majority of the crop is ripe.
Apples are also sold through markets and suppliers.
“We are kept busy during the harvest time and especially weekends we get a lot of people stopping and picking or just buying our bags of apples,” Kris (Mouat) said.
“And each year we have small groups from local schools, kindergartens and childcare centres coming out for the experience of picking their own apples – the kids love it,” she said.
“The road-side stop is open seven days a week and will be open during the Cider Festival weekend, and although we do not have a stand at the Batlow Cider Festival we are supportive of it and what it brings to the town,” Kris said.
