About Us
Welcome to the harvest at Frootogo in the picturesque town of Waterdown, Ontario.
Nestled with-in the Niagara escarpment, you will find our beautiful 116 acre farm called Frootogo.
In 1995, the Hekman family set out to turn a century old horse farm into a fruit farm (click here to learn more about the original farm).
Armed with a dream and strong European roots in fruit growing, ten acres of dwarf apple trees were planted. Bert gained his knowledge in fruit production through his horticulture education in Holland as well as years of hand on experience, having grown up on an apple farm and working at various apple farms in his youth. Bert has a love for growing apples. Often you can find him reading apple journals, researching the internet on the newest apple production techniques, and checking the daily weather forecast of course! Bert has 'given his all' to his apple trees and is very proud of his orchard, and every fall his efforts are rewarded with plentiful, juicy, large apples for you to enjoy!
In additon to planting the apple orchard, it was decided to include a 15 acre pick your own pumpkin field. Over the years, the Hekmans have made many changes and met many challanges (click here to learn about some of our methods of farming).
Willy has always had a love for cooking and baking and set her dreams into action, starting with homemade apple dumplings and apple pies - made right in her home kitchen! She then perfected her recipes for homemade soups and launced 'Souptogo'. Using only fresh ingredients and no preservatives, Willy cooks up numersous soup delights like Cauliflower Cheddar, Squash Meatball, and Smoked Turkey and Wild Rice. Of course, lets not forget the ever-famous Cheddar Bay Bisquits that make a great accompaniment to the soups!
In 2008 the barn addition was built and Willy finally acquired her market bakery with store front! We just love our new space and professional kitchen.
Recently, Willys' daughter Jaqueline has come on board and each year, the mom/daughter team look to expand their product line. Folks just love our scratch bakery items like Shortbreads, Willys dads cookies, Meat pie, and Apple crisp (to name a few!) If fact, we have had to add another oven for 2010, to keep up with demand! For 2010, we will be trying some new items like Apple Crunch Cake!
(Pictured here: Bert and Willy Heman, with daugther Jaqueline, Brett, and Jacob and Ethan)
The Hekman family graciously invites you and your family to come out and enjoy a day of fun. It is apple picking at its best, fresh vegetables from our Frootogo market, lots of family fun activites including Frootogos' petting zoo, and take home treats, warm from Frootogos' bakery ovens.
We really love this farm and hope you will too.
Bert and Willy Hekman
