FREDERICTON – Red Rover has acquired the 180-year-old Neill Family Farm and will start producing their craft cider there in June, the company announced Tuesday.
The farmland on Fredericton’s north side in Devon will be used as a production facility, taproom, event rental space, farm tours, community activities, and the establishment of apple orchards.
“As only the second family in the farm’s history, we plan to ensure that the heritage of this place will be safeguarded for many years to come. This is one of the few remaining urban farms in Canada. We feel it is important to preserve this local connection to agriculture, community and a shared history,” said Nicola Mason, Co-owner of Red Rover, in a release.
The Neill Family Farm is a landmark that has been passed down for four generations. In 2015, Ron and Albert Neill were presented with the Distinguished Citizens of Fredericton Award for their family farm’s embrace of community and welcoming spirit.
Red Rover Craft Cider says they hope to continue the Neill family’s agricultural legacy and commitment to their community values.
“The Neill Family Farm was established nearly 180 years ago by British immigrants. As newcomers ourselves, we hope to establish a new family legacy that will last at least another 180 years. We are excited to plant the seeds for a bright future for our children,” said Clawson, Co-owner of Red Rover.
Red Rover is the oldest cider company in New Brunswick. Since incorporating in 2012, their cider has been internationally rewarded and is widely available across Canada and in bars and restaurants across the Maritimes. Mason and Clawson moved to Fredericton in 2007 from England.
In 2020, Red Rover closed their downtown location, the Cider House, to instead run an outlet store out of their production facility, called Ciderworks, at 880 Hanwell Road. They also launched DrinkNB, an online delivery service for cider and beer across the Fredericton area.
The Neill family says they were approached about the Red Rover project in June of 2020 and were happy to see the family recognize the farm’s importance and potential.
“[The Red Rover facility will] provide an opportunity for future generations of Frederictonians to enjoy a local connection to agriculture and a piece of our collective history,” according to the release.
See Liam Floyd’s full article in Huddle.today HERE.