AC Goatham & Son is delighted to have won a number of awards in the East Kent Fruit Society’s annual top fruit competition with two of its farms at Eastry and Sutton Valance.
It has scooped first prize in the following categories:
Class B Dessert – Gala at Shrubbery Farm, Eastry
Class D Dessert – other (Zari) at Griffins Farm, Sutton Valance
Most commercial orchard – Griffins Farm, Sutton Valance
Best orchard over 1000 trees/acre – Shrubbery Farm, Eastry
Best orchard under 1000 trees/acre – Griffins Farm, Sutton Valance
Orchard of the year 2017 – Griffins Farm, Sutton Valance
Most commercial orchard – Griffins Farm, Sutton Valance
Pears – V-System at Shrubbery Farm, Eastry
“We consistently strive for uniformity and perfection across all of our orchards,” said Nigel Stewart, technical director at AC Goatham & Son. “This year both of these farms have been a real showcase for the individual varieties of apples and conference pears. The hard work and commitment shown by the whole growing team throughout the year helps to achieve these excellent results.”
AC Goatham & Son, who is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, began its harvest on 16 August at Griffins Farm. 2017 has been a very challenging year for growers with the late, hard frosts in the spring followed by the very long dry spell and then a summer of heavy rain and the threat of hail. Mr Stewart said he will be relieved to get this year’s crop into cold stores and then out directly to customers.
