Fruit farm is hoping to take on more staff (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Fruit farm is hoping to take on more staff

3:50pm Wednesday 24th February 2010 in Business By Mike Pryce

A WORCESTERSHIRE fruit farm is targeting new sales after gaining a £45,890 rural enterprise grant (REG).

The money will allow Charlie and Jane Clive to diversify their business and create new employment opportunities.

Mrs and Mrs Clive have run Clives Fruit Farm at Upton- upon-Severn since 1988 and in addition to the regular farming, the couple have created an award-winning apple and pear juicing plant, established a successful children’s nursery and opened a farm shop.

Now, thanks to the REG through the rural development programme for England, they are carrying out a series of improvements to boost business, including refitting the farm shop, creating a new educational room and strengthening their juice operation by building a specialist storage facility.

Jane Clive said: “The REG, which is part of a total £120,000 investment, has been invaluable in helping to bring the farm into the 21st century.

“The improvements we have been able to make to the farm shop have considerably improved the service we can offer. We are now able to offer customers a far greater range of produce and the early response to what we are doing has been very positive.”

Established in 2002, the drinks operation has grown considerably and some of its products have secured awards, including the Waitrose small producer award for its conference pear and mulled apple juice and the Heart of England fine foods best in the West Midlands for its single variety Cox juice.

Dorothy Coleman, rural enterprise grant manager, said: “Rural businesses are increasingly looking to broaden their activities and Clives Fruit Farm has used the rural enterprise grant to strengthen its core business while also diversifying into other areas.

“It is already starting to reap the benefits of this approach with increases in turnover and new jobs.”

The rural enterprise grant is funded under the rural development programme for England, which is managed by Advantage West Midlands and administered by Herefordshire Council.

The grants are available for farmers and micro businesses developing and diversifying into food and drink, environmental technologies and tourism improvements.