GROWING FRESHNESS:
Riverbend Orchards was incorporated in spring of 2009 when Philip and Karen Ronald purchased Linden’s B B Farm, founded by the late Bill Linden and his wife Marie. The Ronald’s and their family have continued the tradition of providing locally-grown fruit for consumers in southern Manitoba. Riverbend Orchards is also a licensed propagator and grower of the honeyberry (haskap) cultivars developed at the University of Saskatchewan.
The orchards are planted on 20 acres of fertile, river bottom soil on the south side of Portage la Prairie. We are conveniently located at 100 Old Bridge Road, within city limits. Most of the property consists of a triangular-shaped acreage bordered by Highway 240 to the east, George Lake to the west and the Trans Canada highway to the north. George Lake is a part of Garrioch Creek which drains Crescent Lake into the Assiniboine River.
Each year, fruit picking commences in late-June with haskap (honeyberries), followed by saskatoons and gooseberries in early to mid-July, then tart cherries in mid to late July. Plums and apples are expected in early September. Customers can choose to pick their own fruit or buy pre-picked fruit from our coolers. Depending on crop size, pre-picked berries are typically available fresh for several weeks in the summer and frozen for a longer period into the fall.
ARTICLES PUBLISHED ABOUT OUR FARM:
(2017, July 19) Fruits of their labour. Joe Bryksa, Winnipeg Free Press, Winnipeg.
(2009, July 15). Ronalds buy Linden’s berry farm. Ezra Ginsbury, Daily Graphic, Portage la Prairie.
