FOOD + DRINK
inside THE BUSINESS :
OWLET FRUIT JUICE
AN INTERVIEW WITH FARMER AND OWLET FRUIT JUICE OWNER , JAMES SMITH .
Owlet Fruit Juice is made on site at Loddington Farm in Kent . Established in 1986 , the brand is known for its Great-Taste-Awardwinning range of single variety English apple juices together with highly original blends of English fruits , berries and flowers , grown and crafted in a way that is kind to the environment . All of Loddington Farm ’ s apple orchards are now being converted to organic production which represents a new chapter in their nature-friendly farming journey .
How long has your family been at Loddington Farm ? My family has been farming at Loddington Farm for five generations , since 1882 . After graduating from Reading University with a degree in crop science , I pursued a career in fresh produce until 2003 when I joined my dad on his great grandfather ’ s apple farm in Kent . Now , Loddington Farm is more than just apple orchards – it ’ s become a real hub of the community with a farm shop , a café , a PYO flower patch , our own pigs and chickens , a brewery and family events throughout the year that bring people together to celebrate food , farming , family and friends .
Why did you decide to buy the juice brand ? We bought Owlet Fruit Juice in 2020 to add value to the apples and pears that weren ’ t ‘ perfect ’ enough for fresh fruit sales . This means that all of the fruit that would otherwise not be picked is now turned into
Owlet Fruit Juice . We also thought that the juice brand would be a good way of introducing people to the regeneration work we ’ re committed to here at Loddington – I ’ m passionate about reconnecting consumers with healthy food and how it is grown . Funnily enough , the original owner of Owlet worked with my father in the 1970s here at the farm !
What makes Owlet Fruit Juice different ? The fruit from Loddington that we put in our juices is grown without using synthetic fertilisers or herbicides . We believe that farming with nature instead of chemicals produces more nutritious , environmentallyfriendly fruit for our juices . The simple pressing process we use retains the justpicked flavour of the fruit and we don ’ t add any sugar , artificial sweeteners , colours or preservatives . It is produced here at the farm and always made from UK fruit , primarily from our own orchards .
How important is sustainability to your brand ? I believe that sustainability is not enough . We need to improve our environment in every area . To sustain is to maintain and I believe we are not in a good enough place to just stay still . From the health of our soil to investing in renewable energy to power our equipment , enhancing the land is at the heart of everything we do .
Pressing and bottling on-site reduces the product ’ s carbon footprint and our zeroemission van for local deliveries helps even more . The biggest impact farming can have is to farm with nature in a way that enhances the natural environment , reduces CO2 in the atmosphere and builds a better planet . Owlet Fruit Juice as a Loddington brand is synonymous with driving positive change in beverages and farming , which are completely linked when you buy our juice . Since owning the brand , we have won two Footprint Sustainability awards – one for Sustainable Use of Natural Resources and another for being a Sustainable Supplier , which recognises our efforts to do things in a better way .
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