Supermarket demand for organic UK-grown top fruit has encouraged longstanding Worldwide Fruit (WWF) member CE Murch Ltd to switch over the remaining 65 per cent of its apple and pear crop to organic.
Director Charles Atkins, who runs the family-owned Arbele Farm at Blean, Kent, started converting his 45 acres in 1997, and 35 per cent are now profitably in organic production. The remaining two thirds, accounting for 10,000 trees, is currently being grafted over to organic production - a six-week process due to be completed this month.
The Cox orchards can trace their history back four generations, but Atkins broke with tradition and selected Red Falstaff, Red Pippin, Jonagored and Regal Prince, as well as some Conference pears.
“Organic production, like all fruit growing, has to be profitable,” he said. “Many mainstream varieties simply do not crop heavily enough, even though they command a premium. Cox yields, for example, are minimal, while the varieties we have chosen will reach around 80 per cent of the commercial crop. We have to ensure we grow varieties that produce sustainable returns.
“Although those we have chosen would not be the customer’s first choice, they can be grown profitably in an organic situation in the UK.”
Atkins has chosen to graft over 14-year-old Cox trees this spring rather than plant a new orchard, because of the benefits derived from the already established root system.
He is one of three WWF members who grow UK organic apple and pears, the other two being Nick Moor of Teynham, Kent, and Clive Baxter from Hunton, Kent.
In addition, WWF has organic trials underway in Kent assessing the suitability of new apples such as Pinova, Dalinbel, Juliette and Zari. The investment has again been backed by WWF.
Tony Harding, technical controller of Worldwide Fruit Qualytech, said:
“Our retail customers are keen to increase the limited volume of organic English top fruit that is currently available, and we are supporting this view.
“As a result, we are prepared to share the start-up costs with members, extending our partnership role.”
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