Organic Produce

The Farm is certified with Organic Farmers And Growers (number ukF003035 )

James Foskett Farms went into organic production in 2009 after being encouraged to do so by our conventional crop customers and we could see a good market place for the type of vegetable crops we wanted to grow. Prior to that we had two years of conversion with clover crops to build up soil fertility and set about planning the crops we wanted to produce to give us a sustainable rotation. We have two blocks of organic land, one at Kirton and one at Martlesham which together amount to about 220 acres.

Potatoes

These are marketed by GreenvaleAP, packed at Floods Ferry in Cambrigeshire and sold mostly through Tesco stores. Varieties grown include Vales Emerald which is a first early potato with slightly yellow flesh which is sold as a salad and Marfona which is a second early which is used for general packing or as an early baking potato. They are all grown for prepacking and will be harvested and marketed from mid July to the end of September.

Onions

As members of G’s Growers the Farms organic onions are marketed by G’s Marketing and packed for Tesco and Marks and Spencer at the G’s packing site at Ramsey in Cambridgeshire. Three varieties are grown, Romy which is a red, Santero which is a brown type and VCS 6004. They are all grown from setts which are planted in spring and should be harvested in mid August then dried and sold before Christmas.

Carrots

The Farm grows carrots in partnership with RB Organics who are based in Yaxley near Peterborough and part of the larger Produce World group. Most of our production is grown for early lifting in June and July and grown under crop covers to achieve earliness. Varieties include Primo, Laguna, Nairobi, Sweet Candle, Florida, Miami.

Butternut Squash

This is a relatively new crop for James Foskett Farms and relies on good sunshine levels during the summer to ripen the crop evenly before harvest. Squashes are grown on beds from plants raised in greenhouses and harvested in late September/early October into boxes and stored on farm while they are marketed during late October through to January. They are sold through several outlets which include Tesco’s and some of the organic box schemes.

Green Beans

These are grown for several customers and some of the organic box schemes. The Farm stages planting to get a 12 week harvesting programme which should take us from late June through to the end of September. The first drillings have to be covered with fleece to protect the early crop from late frosts and encourage earliness. Varieties include Scylla, Scuba, Green Arrow and Stanley, all of which are handpicked into trays and chilled overnight before delivery to customers to retain quality.

Brassica’s

A range of brassica crops are grown at James Foskett Farms which include Broccoli, Sprouts, Savoys and Cauliflowers. These crops are marketed through Marshalls who are part of the Produce World group and end up in many of the major supermarkets, the rest go through some of the organic box schemes. Most crops are for winter cutting and supply but the Broccoli is grown under fleece for early summer picking.

Sweet Corn

This crop is grown under fleece for the early market and is destined for the Organic Box Schemes. Freshly picked sweet corn a great product to eat during the summer especially when it’s cooked on the barbeque.

• Seed Potatoes
• Ware Potatoes
• Organic Produce
• Conventional Produce