Jane and Charlie Clive of Clive’s Fruit Farm, Upton-on-Severn, Worcestershire have been presented with the Waitrose Small Producer of the Year Award in the drinks category for their hand-pressed Conference Pear juice by Sir Stuart Hampson, Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, at The Royal Show.
The fruit farm has been in the family since 1911, and now grows a wide range of pick-your-own fruits including strawberries, raspberries, cherries, redcurrants, over 20 varieties of plums, 22 of apples and 6 of pears. The Clives, the third generation of producers, only started making juices, farmhouse ciders and perry in 2002 but have already gained a reputation for their outstanding quality products, winning the award for Best Cox Juice in the West Midlands in the HEFF Food & Drink Awards.
In addition to its own Farm Shop, Clive’s retail the juices in local farm shops, craft centres and four Waitrose stores (Malvern, Cheltenham, Monmouth and Abergavenny) with a fifth looking probable in the near future.
The winning Conference Pear juice is made from naturally grown, hand selected fruit which is then pressed using traditional methods in their juicing shed within hours of being picked. Waitrose judges, including Henrietta Green of Food Lovers Britain, remarked on the clarity of the juice, which Jane puts down to the gentle pasteurisation techniques and her own secret recipe.
Delighted at their success, Jane said, “It was a great feeling to get through to the finals and we were delighted that we’d won, it is our reward for all the hard work and long hours that go into making our juices! Hopefully it will help promote the fruit juices to a wider market and lead to further opportunities within Waitrose and other retail outlets.”
Debbie Coxon, trade development manager at HEART of ENGLAND fine foods said of the win: “We’re always very pleased when one of our members receives public recognition for their products and Clive’s Fruit Farm are deserving winners. It is a good example to other small, regional producers who are looking to sell into the multiples that it is achievable and HEFF is here to help them make the jump. Everyone at HEFF sends their congratulations to Jane and Charlie.”
No comments yet