A first class job

This week we had our first of many picks from our tabletop strawberries at Loyterton. With the plants, yielding a high percent of first class berries, with uniform shape, good size and colour, and fantastic eating qualities with sugars at their optimum you can fully enjoy the srawberries, one of the most delicious and nutritious fruits.

Did you know?
One serving of strawberries has more vitamin C than one orange!

Health and Safety at Mansfields

We as a company take Health and Safety very seriously. We have set up our own H&S Committee, which includes members of various sectors of our work force to participate and discuss any issues in our H&S meetings.
We have an appointed H&S person who is responsible for carrying out all Risk/ Fire assessments within all our sites, and we have identified and trained First Aiders, Fire Marshals and a nominated Fire Officer. Fire Alarm systems are installed throughout our packhouses and storage areas and we conduct regular Fire Drills, and this is now being implemented on our external sites

Beetle banks at Home Farm, Marshside

Beetle banks are simple, grass-sown raised strips providing habitat for the invertebrate predators of crop pests and other farmland wildlife.
At Home Farm, Marshside in Kent, beetle banks have been built and seeded with a specific grass mix including species such as cocksfoot, Yorkshire fog and timothy mix.. The conditions provide tussocky grass-nesting areas for birds such as skylarks and grey partridge. They also provide breeding and feeding areas for small mammals and insects, feeding areas for owls and other birds of prey, and overwintering refuge for beneficial insects and spiders.

Table top strawberry at Loyterton Farm

We have grown strawberry for over a decade and this year Mansfields have invested in table- top strawberries at Loyterton Farm. Nearly 170,000 plants of Elsanta strawberries are grown in compost bags and will be producing two crops a year. First plants were planted in March to be picked in May- June, and then will be re-planted in July ready to be picked in September- October. By using this modern farming method the plants should produce higher yield and a consistent quality fruit. The strawberries are going very well, we are pleased how they look and we are expecting to start picking our first crop at the end of this week.

Promising outlook for the 2007 cherry season

Cherries are looking a little more impressive this year. With a very warm April the set looks fantastic and now on towards May some varieties have “thinned down” to a reasonable crop. Colney and Regina look like producing less than 2006 season but they will be big and juicy. Maybe also we will have a crop of Stella- well known for “running” but looks like it is here to stay.


Did you know?

Cherries are:

• Fat-free
• Sodium-free
• Cholesterol-free
• A good source of fibre
• And taste great!
  

Elsanta strawberries- full steam ahead

The strawberry season this year started nearly three weeks earlier due to the very warm weather.
Early strawberries Elsanta are well on the way, being picked for two weeks now. The crop looks bright and evenly coloured, with a firm and juicy texture and a balanced sweet/ acidic flavour. Even though last weeks cooler weather is now over, with good temperatures in the day and evening, the berries are ripening in the middle of the plant, giving a real sign that the plant is ready to “move on".


Did you know?

Strawberries are the first fruit to ripen in the spring.

Crop and Weather Summary

April 2007

April was an exceptionally warm month, with all climate districts and regions setting new April records for maximum and mean temperatures. April was very dry, no rain since the 30th of March. Trees are and will suffer on marginal sites, Street farm, Marshside. Planted strawberries are developing without issues. Looks like a good set on stone fruit season and the earlier flowering on all tree crops by at least 10 days has coincided with a very warm April.