Local Cheshire Apples

As a family run business ourselves, we love to hear the great stories of the people behind the great local produce in our shops. Willington Apple Juice is available all year round in The Hollies Farm Shops at both Little Budworth and Lower Stretton, and is also a firm favourite on the drinks list in our Coffee Shops. By late September we will have a variety of Winsor’s Apples from their fruit farm down the road from us in Willington, Cheshire.

The Winsor family planted their first apple trees in Cheshire in 1953 as part of their market garden enterprise. From there the business has grown to what it is today, still based at Willington Fruit Farm with those original trees still cropping. As the business grew so did the family and it is now quite usual to have three generations in the fields working together. The third generation of the Winsor family are now picking off those original trees and pressing them for juice. The first member of the fourth generation was born a few years ago and trees for a new orchard were planted to mark the occasion.

At this time of year the soft fruit season is coming to an end and thoughts turn to the apple harvest. The blossom on the trees in May gives a good indication of what crop you might expect later in the year. From then until autumn they put their skills and knowledge into the orchards plus a great deal of hope. It is always a gamble against the weather and the crop is not safe until harvested.

Look out for the delicious variety of local Cheshire apples in both of our farm shops towards the end of September.