Our Family
About Catoctin Mountain Orchard
The history of how it all started…
Catoctin Mountain Orchard was started in 1948 when Harry Black, who was working for the owner Ira Kelbaugh, helped start and build an open-air retail market just north of Thurmont, Maryland along Rt. 15.
70% of the 100 acres of Apple and Peaches were sold to truckers and the wholesale markets in Baltimore and the Washington-Virginia areas. Harry and Helen Black then purchased the farm from Mr. Kelbaugh in 1961 and built several additions to the open air retail market. And In 1983 they decided to close up the “open air” market and build a 50’x50′ addition. Several changes were made over the next seven years including building three cold storage rooms in 1964 & 1968, four Irrigation ponds and an Apple grader to wash and size the Apples.
Our Mission
Our mission is to produce high quality, great tasting fruits, berries, and vegetables. We aim to increase the efficiency of our crop while still maintaining responsible stewardship of the land and water. We pride ourselves on engaging with the community by directly interacting with customers first hand while building relationships and sharing our strong family values.
Who we are now…
Today we grow Strawberries, Black Raspberries, Blueberries, Apricots, Sweet & Sour Cherries, White & Yellow Peaches & Nectarines, Plums, Kale, Cabbage, Squash, Cukes, Tomatoes, Apples, Pears, Concord Grapes, Blackberries, Cantaloupes, Peppers, Rhubarb, Kiwi Berries, and more.
Some of our favorite flowers are Zinnias, Lisianthus, Gornphrena, Celosia, BlackEyed Susan, Statice, Asters, Cocks Comb, and Snap Dragons. Which are offered for U-pick along with berries and cherries in the summer and apples in the fall.
Our most popular addition has been our bakery, we offer many flavors of fruit pies including some of our top customer favorites such as Apple, Cherry, Four Berry, Peach, Strawberry Rhubarb and many more. Also included in our bakery are pound cakes brownies, crumb cakes and apple cider donuts.
As the farm grew and different types of produce were grown, having enough labor became a challenge in the late 1980s and the family decided to hire part-time labor to help out the full-time employees with pruning and harvesting. The farm was very fortunate to hire four Mexican men to help and these men have been with the farm ever since and are a very important part of its success.
One of the main reasons Catoctin Mountain Orchard is able to produce crops is the ability to irrigate our entire farm with Trickle or Drip irrigation using miles of tubing and small electric pumps. This tubing has very small holes every 24′ that drips water out and is laid along the rows to feed the crops. This method helps us to conserve water and energy.
With Integrate Pest Management (IPM), we monitor bad insects with traps. Good insects eat bad ones. This reduces the number of chemicals necessary to maintain a healthy crop. Learn more about our commitment to the land
Many years ago, Catoctin Mountain Orchard started contracting with the school lunch program, where our apples are used to supply lunches in Frederick County Public Schools. It’s wonderful that “Frederick County Students” are eating many varieties of our great tasting apples. We’re providing them with great Apple eating experience that we hope will last a lifetime!
Today, the 2nd & 4th generation of the Harry Black Family work very hard to bring you the safest, best tasting fruit, berries & vegetables that can be grown on our rich soils that we strive to improve and protect for generations to come!
History of Catoctin`s Own AUTUMN GALA
Autumn Gala is sweet and the crunchiest of ALL Gala Apple varieties grown. It was found here on a limb of a “Kidd`s D8” Gala tree over 20 years ago. We named it “Harry Black Gala” in memory of my father after he died in 1998. The “Trade” Name or the listing at the Tree Nurseries is “Autumn Gala”. Many Nurseries all over the world have test trees planted to see how it performs in other climates.
About the Founder
Harry Black, 1st Generation of Catoctin Mountain Orchard
Catoctin Mountain Orchard was started in 1948 when Harry Black, who was working for the owner Ira Kelbaugh, helped start and build an open-air retail market just north of Thurmont, Maryland along Rt. 15.
Harry Black graduated from Thurmont High School, and lived across from the farm. At the time he had worked for Hammaker memorial right in our town, but was offered a part time job with Mr. Kelbaugh to earn some extra money since the depression of the 30s was very harsh, and Harry had lost his father at just 16 years old. He was then offered a full-time job with his high interests in the farm.
With all of his hard work, time and energy he was then offered to help manage the farm alongside Mr. Kelbaugh. Harry Black loved to farm—it was in his blood from the very beginning, and it was his passion. From just a young age you could always find him in the fields with his two siblings and mother picking green beans that were being processed in Thurmont to be canned, and learning whatever it took to be a great farmer one day, and he did just that. He loved to travel to many farms to learn new techniques and made lifelong friends along the way. He enjoyed the time he got to spend with his children going on vacation when there was time, playing cards, visiting friends and family and later on developed a huge passion for Hershey Bears Ice Hockey.
Harry Black loved to farm—it was in his blood from the very beginning, and it was his passion.
