RICHARD CORBETT
My name is Richard Corbett and I’m a third generation blackcurrant grower. My grandfather, father and now me! All three of my children also help at harvest time, it’s a real family affair and something we are all very proud of being part of.
The above picture is of the picking team of the 70’s taking a break. All blackcurrants were picked by hand until the early 1970’s when the first harvesters were produced. The harvesters used today are little changed from these early machines in design.
How long have you been growing blackcurrants?
As a company since the
What varieties do you grow and in what region?
We grow Ben Alder, Ben Gairn, Starav and Ben Kilbreck in the Welsh Marches.
How much do you harvest annually and where do they go?
We harvest around 300 tonnes annually and they all go for Ribena production.
Do you produce anything yourself with the fruit?
Nothing commercially but we do eat them at home and make some jam!
What else do you grow?
We grow cider apples, wheat, barley, oilseed rape, oats
Why do you love growing blackcurrants?
Blackcurrants have always been a part of our farming life. They have been grown on the farm since before I was born and I have been involved in growing them since I was old enough to go and pick them by hand to try and earn a bit of pocket money as a young child. They are a part of the landscape and provide
Can you give one tip that people could benefit from when growing blackcurrants?
Keep on to of pruning out the old wood each winter.
Can you tell us about some of the ways in which you manage the land sustainably?
Wherever possible we use natural predators to carry out pest control and we
What’s your favourite way to enjoy blackcurrants?
Jam on hot buttered wholegrain toast.
If you were a blackcurrant artist what genre of art do you think best represents you in your growing approach and why?
Old Master – conventional and unadventurous!