Mont-Saint-Bruno National Park Experimental Orchard
At this experimental orchard located in Parc National du Mont-Saint-Bruno, IRDA conducts research and development and the transfer of sustainable and environmental solutions in the area of apple farming. This includes insect monitoring, biological pest control, orchard layout, as well as rationalizing the use of and reducing the potential impacts of pesticides.
Conservation, demonstration, and research
IRDA researchers Gérald Chouinard, Vincent Philion, and Daniel Cormier oversee the research projects at this orchard, including the work of the integrated fruit production and environmental microbiology-phytopathology laboratories, and other activities conducted on behalf of Réseau de recherche et d'expertise pomicole en production fruitière intégrée (Réseau-Pommier), Québec’s apple network.
Click on the link to download the integrated fruit production flyer (in French).
The orchard’s official partners are Producteurs de pommes du Québec, Société des établissements de plein air du Québec, and Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec.
Click on the link to download the experimental orchard leaflet (in French).
The orchard’s main features
- 8 hectares of arable land
- 5 hectares allocated for high-density R&D plots
- 2 hectares allocated for demonstrating integrated fruit production
- 2 hectares allocated for heritage conservation
- Eco-friendly high efficiency sprayers
Some of the projects conducted at IRDA’s experimental orchard
- Showcase of apple growing protocols with lower environmental risks, e.g., optimized sprayings and diversified interventions to lessen the environmental footprint of Québec’s apple growing sector
- Large-scale use of mating disruption to control the codling moth in Québec orchards
- Use of exclusion nets to grow apples without pesticides, a 5-year trial with the Honeycrisp cultivar
U-pick
The orchard is open for U-pick from September 1st to October 9 2023.
Available varieties
- Gala
- McIntosh
- Lobo
- Gingergold
- Empire
- Cortland
- Honeycrisp
- McIntosh
Schedule
- Wednesday to Friday: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Weekends and holidays: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
For more information call 450-441-5160.
For available apples to pick : 450 441-5160, ext. 2.
Please note that the orchard is located in an area of the national park where dogs are prohibited.
Prices*
GENERAL PUBLIC
Fresh apples:
- $2.50 / kg. Please bring your reusable bags. Reusable bags are available on place at the cost of $7 each.)
NOTE: You must also pay the entry fee to Parc Mont-Saint-Bruno.
Deer apples:
-
Bagged deer apples | 1 bag: $8
Box of deer apples: $110
IMPORTANT:
Customers who purchase bags or boxes of deer apples must call (450 441-5160) one week in advance to have their order prepared. The boxes will be delivered by appointment at 335 rang des Vingt-Cinq Est.
GROUP RESERVATIONS
Contact IRDA at 450-441-5160 for more information on rates and conditions. Please note that we only accept school groups for 2022. For groups of 20 people or less, it is not necessary to make a reservation.
You can also submit the following form.
* Credit card payment is advocated.
