|
|
From Nikki Conley, Owner
Athol Orchards Antique Apple Farm & Bakery is located in the woods East of Athol, Idaho. Athol Orchards is a “Living History Farm” that is dedicated to growing historical varieties of apples, some varieties dating back 100-300 years. Owner Nikki Conley is sharing the historical importance of these apples and apples on the American landscape with the surrounding community through homeschool field trips, and annual events such as the Farm To Table event that is hosted by Kootenai County Fairgrounds every May. This is an event where over two- thousand 5th grade students come to hear many farmers talk about their specialty as it pertains to the farm to table movement - the beef industry, dairy industry, small CSA farms, grains, and in Athol Orchards case, apples, the history of apples in America and the importance of grafting.
Athol Orchards is also once again partnering with the Kootenai County University of Idaho Extension office in 2019 to offer the only one of its kind, a 4H Blue Orchard Mason Bee Project. Last year children received their own mason bee hives, raised the bees in their own gardens and then came out for a field day to Athol Orchards to observe the mason bees in their native habitat. Athol Orchards has at least seven Blue Orchard Mason Bee hives installed by the U of I extension throughout the orchard.
What ties Athol Orchards to the local food scene is what has become a local sensation, its “Farm-Crafted” Apple Cider Syrup aka Apple Pie In a Bottle. This product hit the Kootenai County Farmer’s Market in the Spring of 2017 as a hunch and a gamble for Nikki and her family. In short of a year and a half the syrup has gone from a small “side offering” at the farmer’s market to a full-time production. The syrup is produced with a very short list of fine, natural ingredients. No preservatives, no corn syrup, gluten free and non-gmo. This makes the product highly desirable in the natural food market. It is now being sold in at least 26 food establishments from butcher shops to natural food grocers, feed stores such as North 40 Outfitters, locally owned grocery stores, specialty shops, restaurants and even ice cream shops such as Panhandle Cone & Coffee in Sandpoint Idaho. Locally owned Hiro’s BBQ regularly features the syrup. Owner Andy Buffington masterfully features the syrup in his amazing smoked and grilled meat offerings such as pulled pork, “apple crack” ribs, and more.
The syrup owes much of it’s success to it’s versatility and to the customers who’ve enjoyed elevating it’s humble beginnings as a breakfast syrup. This is one of many Athol Orchards “Farm-Crafted” products to come. Over the holiday season customers enjoyed the first and limited release of Athol Orchards Apple Cider Caramel. It will be a seasonal offering every year. The Conley family is working hard to build an on-farm licensed kitchen and bakery space this Spring. With this facility they will continue to produce the current products as well as the yet-to- be released new line of Farm Crafted products as well as a fine menu of true farm to table pies featuring their apples, various other orchard fruit and pumpkins brought straight in from the field. The bakery items are currently available on a special-order basis but with the kitchen’s completion, the pies will be more widely available for various markets, private customers, and fine food establishments.
Athol Orchards garnered much media exposure in 2018 including a front page article in the CDA Press, a special radio piece hosted by Doug Nadvornick from Inland Journal of Spokane Public Radio (a radio piece that has since been aired on NPR multiple times in 2018 and again in January of 2019), a piece written by Carrie Scozzaro that was featured in The Inlander, and also recently highlighted as an Idaho Small Business Development Center Success Story.
Athol Orchards Antique Apple Farm & Bakery is located in the woods East of Athol, Idaho. Athol Orchards is a “Living History Farm” that is dedicated to growing historical varieties of apples, some varieties dating back 100-300 years. Owner Nikki Conley is sharing the historical importance of these apples and apples on the American landscape with the surrounding community through homeschool field trips, and annual events such as the Farm To Table event that is hosted by Kootenai County Fairgrounds every May. This is an event where over two- thousand 5th grade students come to hear many farmers talk about their specialty as it pertains to the farm to table movement - the beef industry, dairy industry, small CSA farms, grains, and in Athol Orchards case, apples, the history of apples in America and the importance of grafting.
Athol Orchards is also once again partnering with the Kootenai County University of Idaho Extension office in 2019 to offer the only one of its kind, a 4H Blue Orchard Mason Bee Project. Last year children received their own mason bee hives, raised the bees in their own gardens and then came out for a field day to Athol Orchards to observe the mason bees in their native habitat. Athol Orchards has at least seven Blue Orchard Mason Bee hives installed by the U of I extension throughout the orchard.
What ties Athol Orchards to the local food scene is what has become a local sensation, its “Farm-Crafted” Apple Cider Syrup aka Apple Pie In a Bottle. This product hit the Kootenai County Farmer’s Market in the Spring of 2017 as a hunch and a gamble for Nikki and her family. In short of a year and a half the syrup has gone from a small “side offering” at the farmer’s market to a full-time production. The syrup is produced with a very short list of fine, natural ingredients. No preservatives, no corn syrup, gluten free and non-gmo. This makes the product highly desirable in the natural food market. It is now being sold in at least 26 food establishments from butcher shops to natural food grocers, feed stores such as North 40 Outfitters, locally owned grocery stores, specialty shops, restaurants and even ice cream shops such as Panhandle Cone & Coffee in Sandpoint Idaho. Locally owned Hiro’s BBQ regularly features the syrup. Owner Andy Buffington masterfully features the syrup in his amazing smoked and grilled meat offerings such as pulled pork, “apple crack” ribs, and more.
The syrup owes much of it’s success to it’s versatility and to the customers who’ve enjoyed elevating it’s humble beginnings as a breakfast syrup. This is one of many Athol Orchards “Farm-Crafted” products to come. Over the holiday season customers enjoyed the first and limited release of Athol Orchards Apple Cider Caramel. It will be a seasonal offering every year. The Conley family is working hard to build an on-farm licensed kitchen and bakery space this Spring. With this facility they will continue to produce the current products as well as the yet-to- be released new line of Farm Crafted products as well as a fine menu of true farm to table pies featuring their apples, various other orchard fruit and pumpkins brought straight in from the field. The bakery items are currently available on a special-order basis but with the kitchen’s completion, the pies will be more widely available for various markets, private customers, and fine food establishments.
Athol Orchards garnered much media exposure in 2018 including a front page article in the CDA Press, a special radio piece hosted by Doug Nadvornick from Inland Journal of Spokane Public Radio (a radio piece that has since been aired on NPR multiple times in 2018 and again in January of 2019), a piece written by Carrie Scozzaro that was featured in The Inlander, and also recently highlighted as an Idaho Small Business Development Center Success Story.
|
|