November is here; glad to see Halloween behind us, I know the kids love it, but it seems to me to be yet another 'commercial' import from America. Still Guy Fawkes is definitely 'home grown' just like our wonderful range of English Apples!
Well, reading up on Google, it seems Halloween was a Celtic tradition exported to America by Irish and Scots emigrants; e.g. Quote: "Irish and Scottish immigrants carried versions of the tradition to North America in the nineteenth century. Other western countries embraced the holiday in the late twentieth century including Ireland, the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom as well as of Australia and New Zealand.
Of course Halloween has generated a whole (relatively) new industry for Pumpkin Growers and I'm quite partial to a bowl of Pumpkin Soup!
Getting back to Apples; this week The English Apple Man visited Ringden Farm at Flimwell in East Sussex, where the Dench Family grow more than 40 varieties of Apples and Pears and make a wide selection of apple and other fruit juices.
The English Apple Man has known Chris Dench for many years as we farmed not much more than a mile (as the crow flies) from each other; he just in East Sussex and me just in West Kent!
Ringden originally belonged to Norman Hunt who planted his first orchards in 1949. In 1963 the farm was bought by Bentley (Ben) Dench who farmed there until he died in 1978. Following in his father's footsteps, Chris Dench returned to Ringden and took over as the farmer. Chris had gained valuable experience with the highly respected fruit grower Bill Youdale at Athena Farm near Etchingham in East Sussex, before joining East Malling Research, where among other roles he worked on the root tunnels.
Over the years Chris has developed the farm from one which supplied wholesale markets and Supermarkets packing apples on a large (Femco) grader through Markads a small co-operative which had been Chaired by his father Ben, into the 'consumer facing' business of today.
On my visit his eldest son John took me around the site, including a visit to the most recent orchard (now 3 years old) planted with an extensive mix of old and new varieties.
Below left: The new orchard accommodates a mix of old and new varieties - Below right: John Dench demonstrates the strong growth on this Cheerfull Gold tree this summer
The new orchard is designed to deliver enough fruit for farm shop needs, so two rows of each variety have been planted. John told me this season produced around half a bulk bin of each variety in the 3rd leaf and he anticipates a full bin; circa 300kg from each variety in 2015.
The mix of new /old varieties enhances the selection available to Ringden Customers
Ellisons Orange: Laxton Fortune: Saturn: Christmas Pippin: Herefordshire Russet: Kidd's Orange: Jona-Prince: D'Arcy Spice: Pitmaston Pineapple: Crispin: Melrose: Blenheim Orange: Rubinola.
Also planted in the new orchard; Medlar- Flandres Giant: Medlar -Nottingham Gold.
Plum - Warwickshire Drooper: Plum - Heganta: Greengage - Stella Star: Greengage - Ouillins.
John and Chris carry out the pruning, each with their own particular role and Lesley is the Jam maker. Younger son Nathan assists in the packhouse, supervising workers etc and maintains the stock control for juice among many other responsibilities.
Harvesting is a close knit operation, with family and six pickers involved.
John told me they still manage to get their crop harvested using local pickers; from the nearby villages of Kilndown and Robertsbridge. In 2014 they employed six locals.
John (now 33) joined the family business in 2001 after an early career in IT; originally with a Computer Company at Sandhurst in Kent before joining Lexmark Printers. When Lexmark decided to take the business to India, John decided not to join the exodus and having helped Chris and Lesley at Chiswick Farmers Market (not to far from his base in London) decided to join his parents at Ringden.
In 2004 John took 6 months out to work with Farm Harvesting Contractors in America; working from Texas to the Canadian border. The crops were primarily Cereals (Wheat) and also Alfalfa a clover high in protein. The name alfalfa is widely used, particularly in North America and Australia. But in the UK, the more commonly used name is lucerne.
John said harvesting a wheat field of over 500 acres in Nebraska was not uncommon!
Discussing the marketing strategy with John and Chris, it is clear the overall effect of 'Supermarket invasion' has made marketing harder. Chris told me in the early days of the Farm Shop he and Lesley would spend Sunday morning bagging up apples into 5lb bags which sold quickly in large quantities; now the same volume may take a week to sell.
Farm Shop
Ringden Farm Shop has an extensive display of 'home grown' Apples & Pears and vegetables. Lots of interesting produce to 'tempt the taste buds' caught my eye, including Quince, home made jams and the wide range of Ringden Fruit Juices.
Below: Bramley - Rubinola - Pinova
Below: Egremont Russet - Red Devil - Cox apples
Below: Fresh Vegetables and Juice Displays in the Farm Shop
.jpg "Ringden Fruit Juice display")
Farmers Markets
The Dench Family supply many farmers markets in and around London. Chris started serving Farmers Markets about 15 years ago and while Chris, Lesley and John are committed to particular markets, they also employ a salesman; Scott Lewis who manages Guildford, Hampton and Surbiton 'Farmers Markets' and takes responsibility for the wholesale business, which is a key element of the business.
The percentage 'split' between Farm Shop, Farmers Markets and Wholesale is 10% - 30% and 60% respectively. The importance of the wholesale sales, which take in other farm shops is clear; there is no doubt the Supermarkets have impacted on farm shop sales and general greengrocer apple sales.
Below: Sorting Comice pears by hand and John with a pallet of Jupiter ready for dispatch
Below: a box of Comice Pears and Jupiter Apples
Farmers Markets depend on location and the 'Market' organisation; John said a Farmers Market in an affluent area does not guarantee success; often a less affluent area will make for a busier market and better sales. While many started as Council inspired, many are now run by private organisations. The success of the Market depends on the enthusiasm of the Market organisers and their willingness to publicise their market in the surrounding area.
Balancing the volume grown v sales is always a key element and the Dench family grow 47 varieties of apples and 6 varieties of pears. The attraction of many varieties, some with an 'historic appeal' as well as unique flavours creates a point of difference, and of course the ability to discuss the organoleptic qualities of each variety with the grower himself is something you will not get in a Supermarket.
Ringden Farm is a regular stallholder at: Barnes Farmers Market - Chiswick Fine Food Market - Farnham Farmers Market - Guildford Farmers Market - Hampton Farmers Market - Milford Farmers Market - Surbiton Farmers Market - Wallington Farmers Market.
The Market Days can be found on: Ringden Farm - Farmers Market web page.
Ringden Juice
Juice making at Ringden Farm is central to the success of the business; it all started in 1990 when Chris suffered a very bad hailstorm. With so much fruit unsaleable in the conventional way, Chris and Lesley ventured into juice making. The ability to turn apples and pears with perfect flavours, but imperfect visual appearance into a high quality product maximises the value of the raw fruit.
The use of traditional pressing methods and slow pasteurisation preserves the real flavour of English apples.
From those early beginnings, Ringden now offers 26 individual variety juices and another 'dozen' blends of apple and different fruits; Strawberry, Raspberry, Quince, Plum, Elderflower.......and more.
An interesting 'still lemonade' line named after Chis Dench's father - Bentley (Ben) Dench - Bentley's was launched to celebrate 50 years since Bentley started the business in 1963. Among these a Traditional Still Lavender Lemonade.
Below left: A Display of Ringden Fruit Juices - Below right: Bentley's Lemonade created to celebrate the 50th Anniversary since Ben Dench started his business at Ringden Farm
Make your own juice
Ringden offer small growers an opportunity to turn any surplus apples into their own juice. Home owners with apple trees in their garden can bring their fruit to Ringden where it will be pressed and bottled and labelled (if required) and returned to the grower. The 2014 price for this equates to £1.30 per litre. The amount of juice extracted depends on the variety, but it takes on average 3lbs of apples to create 1 litre of juice. In 2013 Ringden made juice for 836 customers and to date; 517 this season.
Below: Juice made from fruit brought to Ringden for pressing and bottling
Click to visit Ringden Farm - Make your own Juice website page.
Ringden Farm
Many farm shops sell English Apples & Pears, but few grow such a wide range on their own farm, and this sets them apart from many other farm shops. Of course a farm shop must have a character of its own which reflects the owner; some will major on meat, dairy, home made pies, baked bread and cakes, but in terms of home grown apples and juice, the Ringden 'offer' is up there with the best.
Lesley Dench's 'home made' jams on sale in the Farm Shop and at Farmers Markets are special, and while there I was given a pot of Strawberry Jam, which was delicious on 'my toast' at breakfast this morning.
Below: This picture hangs in the Farm Shop and caught my attention as it epitomizes the 'rustic' memories of the past. In many ways, Chris Dench and his family have retained all the best bits of those memorable days while adapting to the requirements of retailing in the present.
Also below: Lesley Dench's home made jams and Bentley's Lemonade
Finally; if we are to retain the choice of shopping locally as well as having access to Supermarkets, it is vital 'we consumers' shop as much as possible in farm shops in our locality.
BETTESHANGER SUSTAINABLE PARK.
Regular readers of The English Apple Man will be aware of my association with Hadlow College
Hadlow College hosted a groundbreaking celebration at the Betteshanger Country Park on Thursday 30th October 2014 that marked the start of the Betteshanger Sustainable Park development.
Below a Hadlow College Press Release
A year ago plans for the Betteshanger Sustainable Parks scheme were officially launched at the House of Commons. Twelve months on, the first planning consent has been obtained and building is commencing at this former colliery site.
Betteshanger is near Deal but the benefits derived from economic regeneration in this part of Kent will have favourable influence on the county as a whole.
Located in an Enterprise Zone and thus a key priority for the Government, the first part of this £40 million project to gain planning consent is the Betteshanger Sustainable Parks Visitor Centre. This will include a unique Mining Heritage Museum and Heritage Trail and an Energy Centre showcasing green technologies including biomass and photovoltaic cells. The technology will generate sufficient energy to power the visitor centre with surplus feeding into the national grid.
Menus in the cafe and restaurant will focus on high quality 'local' and 'seasonal' produce. The existing Fowlmead cycling facilities will be enlarged and enhanced with potential to host regional and national sporting events. The conference and seminar facilities that form part of the plan will provide versatile spaces for formal and informal occasions. Thus the development will live up to its 'Sustainable Parks' title.
This is exciting progress for an area of East Kent that has suffered a lengthy series of socio-economic setbacks. The highly ambitious visitor centre will link into the heritage trail that includes Dover, Deal and Walmer castles, the White Cliffs, Sandwich, Samphire Ho and more. The Betteshanger Sustainable Park Visitor Centre will add a unique attraction that is predicted to attract 100,000 visitors every year.
Visiting Betteshanger recently, Penny Mordaunt, Under Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government, commented 'This project ticks all the boxes…it's going to be providing jobs for the local community and helping with regeneration…providing skills for the future and a pipeline for entrepreneurs bringing new opportunities and higher wages to the local economy'
Below: An artists impression of The Visitor Centre at Bettshanger Sustainable Park
.jpg "An artists impression of The Visitor Centre at Bettshanger Sustainable Park")
That is all for this week...........next week The English Apple Man will visit mainstream Supermarkets to review availability and price points...........
Take care
The English Apple Man