Beechvale Farm Orchard

Andrew Averty who runs Beechvale Farm Orchard has been growing cooking and dessert apples commercially at his family farm in St John since 1970.

Although brought up and trained in the hotel business, Andrew decided to take up farming in 1959, initially milking a herd of dairy cows. In 1969 / 70 he sold most of the cattle and planted eight vergees of apples and two vergees of Raspberries and Blackcurrants, which were sold very successfully for several years on a "pick your own " basis.

The orchard was planted with a selection of varieties to spread the picking season. The main ones being Bramley's Seedling, Arthur Turner, Tydemans Early Worcester, Lord Lambourne, Cox's Orange Pippin and Golden Delicious.

The apples are sold mainly at the door, or through local organic outlets, such as Farm Fresh Organics in St Lawrence, and to La Mare Vineyards who make a number of apple based products. In most years Beechvale Orchard is the supplier of the largest amount of apples to the vineyards.

The orchard became officially organic in 1999, after a three year conversion period, supervised by the Soil Association. The orchard and farm records are checked annually, and very stringently, by Inspectors from the Association, to ensure that good organic practises are followed to the letter.

Andrew has a keen interest in all aspects of Natural History, and worked for 19 years as a Plant Health and Produce Inspector with the Department of Agriculture & Fisheries before taking early retirement in 1999. He has been a Beekeeper for over 30 years. In the last year he has planted quite a large number of walnut trees.

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