A focus on fruit growing

CLA members had the pleasure of learning more about the fruit growing process during a visit to Tiptree for the Essex summer visit and AGM.

The Wilkin family have been farming at Tiptree in Essex since 1757 and making quality preserves there since 1885. The family grow a range of traditional English fruits and use them to make conserves and condiments in their factory by the farm.

The farm is LEAF Marque accredited (Linking Environment And Farming), recognising how they work sympathetically with the environment and encourage links with their local community.

Every member of staff is part of a share ownership scheme, giving each a keen interest in the future of the business. Fruit crops grown at the farm include strawberries, raspberries, mulberries, Morello cherries, rhubarb, damson, Victoria plum, greengage, quince, and the curious medlar.

During this CLA visit members saw the sustainable intensive fruit farming process in action. They heard about the method of growing strawberries at scale, along with the challenges of labour, pest control and disease. They learnt about the water system at the farm and visited the reservoir.

A tour of the Tiptree Jam Museum was included in the day where visitors saw how the art of preserve making has advanced over the years at Tiptree.

The family has a growing estate of quintessentially English tea rooms and guests enjoyed a famous Tiptree afternoon tea for lunch.

This visit was by kind permission of the Wilkin family.