If you’ve an apple or pear tree in your garden, you’ll know that one minute you’re waiting for fruits to ripen and the next, you’ve got more than you know what to do with!
Rather than letting it go to waste, a local Oxfordshire enterprise has developed a fantastic idea. Turn fruit into delicious, locally pressed juices.
Just a few miles from Woodstock in Horton-cum-Studley, Oxford Farmhouse presses locally grown apples and pears to create its range. And what’s more, it’s available to buy from The Woodstock Grocer, situated in the centre of town.
Describing by some as “liquid gold” the juice is also sold in Chadlington Quality Foods and at Port Meadow Stores, in Wolvercote.
Your apples, your juice and even your own label!
Aswell as having your own harvest pressed, you can add your own personalised labels to the bottles, making unique and wonderful gifts! Or simply donating your fruit is equally welcomed.
Bringing people together
There is another aspect that makes the enterprise special.
Founders Andrew and Mandy established Oxford Farmhouse as a Community Interest Company, with the aim of using food and farming to make a positive difference.
While reducing food waste is key, so is creating a welcoming place where people can learn, work and volunteer, by getting involved during the pressing season.
The organisation supports local schools through visits that help children to better understand where their food comes from. This year, students from Endeavour Academy will be visiting, giving severely autistic teenagers the chance to get involved with pressing and bottling.
During lockdown participants from FarmAbility helped pick fruit from the gardens at Blenheim Palace.
What wonderful examples of how something as simple as an apple, can bring people together in the community.
To find out more about Oxford Farmhouse, including its fruit-pressing service and pruning workshops visit Oxford Farmhouse.
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