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Boxall & Son and Well Pict supplying
strawberries to ASDA for 10 years
Mr David Boxall announced today that he was retiring from the
apple industry and had sold “Griffin Farm” and packhouse based in
Sutton Valence in Kent.
It is
a well known fact that the Boxall family, Andrew in particular,
had been growing the finest strawberries in Kent and that in the
past 10 years Andrew had been supplying “Local” strawberries to
ASDA in Kent.
Andrew had been concerned about the loss of his prized strawberry
fields and as a consequence, in conjunction with Well Pict
European, he is carrying on managing the strawberry production
under a new company A. Boxall and Son to continue the family
tradition.
“This is exciting news for all at Wellpict as his expertise is not
lost and he will be in a position as Director of Wellpict –County
Local to continue to pass on his expertise and knowledge to all
concerned within the Well Pict group and continue to commit his
strawberries to ASDA” said Aurel Voiculescu Director of Well Pict
European.
Andrew said “this is a very positive step forward for my family
and me as I shall still be a grower of the finest strawberries and
I will be able to be personally involved in developing the
strawberry market in Kent and the rest of the UK”
On a
technical side Andrew is well known to most growers in the UK as
he has developed one of the most sophisticated growing systems in
the world. Andrew has also developed his production techniques to
maximise the quality and quantity of fruit grown quite
significantly over recent years. “Our strawberries are produced
using a table top system designed by our own farm (a system that
is now being sold across the country to various other growers that
I know) and our table top system can be modified to accommodate
many different types of growing medium. As well as being one of
the cheapest systems on the market, it can easily be erected by
one person without the need for machinery. It has taken us 5 years
but we have finally designed a growing method that will maximise
our yield and quality, whilst reducing our labour cost. This
system can be purchased from Crop pro Tech Limited.”
Most
of his strawberry fields double crop and the logistical importance
of plant movement have been improved so that they are now able to
turn around 2 crops in a matter of days. A key aspect to this
system is that it addresses the Health and Safety at Work Act as
the pickers do not have to bend and pick strawberries off the
ground thus avoiding potential back injuries caused by stooping.
The strawberries that are ready for picking can easily be selected
or graded as the strawberries are grown at eye level on the table
tops. Since the strawberry plants are off the ground they can be
easily maintained and kept free of possible soil or insect
contamination.
Aurel
Voiculescu Director of Well Pict European said “The formation of
A. Boxall and Son maintains the family tradition and is exciting
for all of us at Well Pict as we are proud to be able to continue
to supply our customers with the finest strawberries from Kent”
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wellpict-countylocal.com
A
look at Andrew Boxall`s award winning apples which now feature in ASDA
stores.
UK
supermarket ASDA is showing immense support to UK farmers following the
unseasonal weather so far.