Latest News: MEET THE GROWER - JEREMY LINSELL

MEET THE GROWER - JEREMY LINSELL

Suffolk’s sole Jazz Apple grower Jeremy Linsell continues to be one of the pioneers of the UK apple world.  After winning Young Grower of the Year in 1997, he hasn’t looked back with his orchards being recognised for their quality, diversity and innovation.

Jeremy first became involved in fruit growing in 1993 after qualifying in Agriculture Mechanisation at Berkshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture.  After fitting in a couple of ‘round the world’ trips to broaden his horizon’s, Jeremy set about working his way up through the ranks at Hemingstone Fruit Farms where he soon became production manager. 

Jeremy comments, “My time at Hemingstone Fruit Farms was a great experience and really solidified my passion for top fruit and in particular apples.   With Dan Neuteboom to learn from it put me it good stead to have a go at owning and running my own orchards.”

In 2002 when Dan Neuteboom retired, Jeremy and his partner Kathy (Dan’s daughter) decided to buy Braiseworth Orchards, a 60 acre farm in Eye in North Suffolk.  Their company Chrome Sword Ltd, which is the company that all their fruit is sold under was also created and Jeremy set to work replanting and restructuring each of the farm’s orchards, while maintaining the farms balance with the surrounding countryside. 

The farm used to concentrate on the varieties Cox, Discovery and Bramley but with Jeremy at the helm, the farm began to innovate and now produces a balance of both the old, the new and the different. 

Jeremy comments, “Without the economies of scale, it is difficult to grow the bigger yielding commodity varieties such as Gala and Braeburn and remain competitive.  With the multiple retailers all looking for variety and points of difference, it just made sense for us to be more creative and produce an eclectic mix including some of the classics such as Cox, forgotten varieties such as Rosemary Russet and some of the fantastic newer varieties which are epitomised by Jazz.”

Talking about Jazz, Jeremy said, “Jazz Apples really have a big future in the UK and around the world.  They have raised the bar when it comes to dessert apples but they are also great when used in cooking.  The eating quality is exceptional and with a fantastic shelf life, they really are the talk of the orchards.”

With Kathy also having a business Stonham Hedgerow which produces chutneys, jams and preserves, it’s lucky that they have two sons Tim and Charlie to help out with the variety chores.  When not growing apples or making chutneys, the family love sailing with Tim and Charlie both aiming for the Olympics someday. 

“I was brought up sailing and love getting out on the water whenever I can.  I can’t blame the lads for dreaming of the Olympics instead of apples, if I were a few years younger I would be doing exactly the same."