What we do
Farming whilst respecting and protecting nature
From the way we grow, pick and pack our produce, to the innovations we embrace and the people we work with, everything we do at New Forest Fruit is centred around passion, sustainability and innovation.
Our Produce
Strawberries
Our Produce
Strawberries
Strawberries are at the heart of our business. Grown from March until the end of November, this extended season is only possible thanks to glasshouse technology.
Our teams carry out daily crop walks and tastings to ensure our strawberries are the very best they can be.
The attention to detail that goes into growing our strawberries includes daily SAP analysis, working in harmony with nature and implementing biodynamic methods which all results in our award-winning fruit.
All our crop is under the protection of polytunnels, which helps to prevent diseases and makes the picking process comfortable and more efficient. The table top system we use also creates an excellent environment for easier picking and avoids the traditional back breaking effect picking can often have.
asparagus
Our Produce
Asparagus
We are the growers of one of the earliest asparagus in UK.
Our season starts as early as February, this is achieved by a number of different factors including our location (South coast, protected by the Isle of Wight), very early varieties as well as our growing techniques.
We grow our asparagus crops under the protection of tunnels, using recycled coir enriched with microorganisms on the table top system, which is not the traditional way, but at New Forest Fruit we like to challenge the norm!
Our asparagus is residue free, which means we don’t use any pesticide or herbicides and all the weeding is done by hand.
Wines
Our Produce
Wines
Beaulieu 58 Wines, where tradition meets innovation!
The New Forest Fruit Company started looking after the Beaulieu Vineyard in 2019.
Owner, vigneron and innovator Sandy Booth and his team are passionate about growing the best grapes to make wines full of character, balance and expression.
Thanks to the unique terroir and clay soils of The New Forest, Beaulieu 58 Wines have a distinct character.
All the grape varieties are grown under the protection of tunnels providing optimum growing conditions and as a result, Sandy is currently growing several varieties that aren’t usually grown successfully in the UK.
More on this project will be placed on the website soon!
Snacks
Our Produce
Snacks
Being in the heart of a National Park, we know just how important limiting our impact on the environment is.
Our New Forest Fruit Snacks are unique and are both made and packed on site, right here in the New Forest!
Our snacks are made using wonky fruit and innovative technology making them a healthy vegan-friendly and gluten-free on-the-go snack for any time of day.
We use a ‘pulse drying process’ that removes all the moisture from the fruit, but magically locks in all the flavour and nutrients!
Growing & Distribution
We grow, pack and distribute on average 5,000 tonnes of produce to local and national retailers across the U.K. every year, whilst keeping sustainability and ethical practice at the heart of what we do.
All our crops are grown under protection which provides a better continuity of supply, as well as more enjoyable working conditions for our staff during inclement weather.
Education
Education plays a really important role at The New Forest Fruit Company and in addition to LEAF’s annual Open Farm Sunday events, we regularly welcome groups from the public, schools, universities as well as from horticultural and agricultural domains to our farm.
In addition to sharing our passion, educational visits provide us with the opportunity to demonstrate our activities, innovations and climate-friendly practices on the farm.
Community
At New Forest Fruit, we are firm believers in giving back and are acutely aware that our social impact is as important as our environmental impact.
As a result, we give back, at any given opportunity and in any way we can, including through events, charity donations, in-kind donations and sponsorships.
Packhouse
Our packing process is a carefully planned operation designed to maintain the freshness and quality of our berries from field, to dispatch. Several meticulous stages take place to ensure each punnet meets the highest standards.
HUSBANDRY
Our dedicated husbandry team carry out daily tasks such as leaf removal, runner cutting and weeding which all improve fruit quality and picking speed. Husbandry is an essential part of our overall growing operation.
picking
Picking is one of the most important aspects of our operation. The picking of our produce in the coolness of the morning by our highly trained pickers, ensures our fruit has the optimum flavour, size and texture resulting in the best quality and freshness for our customers.