A Worcestershire fruit farm has invested £120,000 into diversifying its business.
Charlie and Jane Clive have run Clives Fruit Farm at Upton upon Severn since 1988 and in addition to the regular farming, the couple have created an apple and pear juicing plant, established a successful children’s nursery and opened a farm shop.
The pair have invested £120,000 into re-fitting out the farm shop, creating a new educational room and strengthening its juice operation by building a specialist storage facility, after receiving a £45,890 rural enterprise grant (REG) through the Rural Development Programme for England.
Mrs Clive said: “The REG, which is part of a total £120,000 investment, has been invaluable in helping to bring the farm into the 21st century. The improvements we have been able to make to the farm shop have considerably improved the service we can offer.
“We are now able to offer customers a far greater range of produce and the early response to what we are doing has been very positive.”
Established in 2002, the drinks operation has grown considerably and some of its products have secured awards, including the Waitrose Small Producer Award for its Conference Pear and Mulled Apple juice and the Heart of England Fine Foods ‘Best in the West Midlands’ for its single variety Cox juice.
Initially sold in the farm’s shop, the juice and cider is now supplied to local hotels, restaurants and other retailers.
As part of its commitment to the local community, Clives Fruit Farm will be adding to its onsite natural trail by creating a resources room to better cater for school visits that feature guided tours of the orchards, fruit picking, juicing demonstrations, feeding animals and egg collecting all linked to the National Curriculum.
