edgebank organics

Lucio Salas and Anna Wardman

Kelvinside, Edge Bank, Emneth Hungate, Wisbech PE14 8EJ

Area: 12 acres

Certification: Soil Association

Produce: 12 kinds of soft and top fruit, jam made from the fruit, smoothies

Outlets: Farmers' markets, wholesale, farm gate

Telephone: 01945 430971/07798 641202

Email: enquiries@edgebankorganics.co.uk

Website: www.edgebankorganics.co.uk

Lucio Salas has been farming at Emneth Hungate since 2000 when he and his family moved from London, having always dreamed of having their own farm. Lucio had worked for many years as an agricultural advisor to governments and non-governmental organisations in Africa and South America and was keen to put his knowledge into practice for himself.

After doing the necessary market research, Lucio decided that organic fruit would be the most profitable way of farming the 12 acres and planted up 3 acres of strawberries (seven varieties to ensure as long a harvest as possible) 1/2 acre of cane fruit (raspberries and blackberries) 1/2 acre of bush fruit (blackcurrants, redcurrants, gooseberries) and a small orchard of apples, pears, plums, cherries and quinces

Rhubarb was also planted and melons under plastic. The farm gained full organic status under the Soil Association in 2003. Several varieties of each kind of fruit are grown.

In 2004 he was joined in the business by his wife, Anna Wardman, tired of working in senior management in the charity and higher education sectors and she now focuses on the marketing side while Lucio concentrates on the production. A small-scale jam production unit was added to use up any surplus fruit.

Edgebank Organics produces:

Strawberries from May till October

Raspberries from July till October

Blackcurrants, Redcurrants and Gooseberries in July

Blackberries from August till September

Melons from August till September

Cherries in July

Plums from August till September

Pears, Apples and Quinces from late September till end of October

Jam and jellies of all the above-mentioned fruit from May till December

Edgebank Organics has stalls at the following Farmers' Markets from early May to the end of October:

Saturdays:

Primrose Hill, north London (10 till 2);

St Ives, Cambridgeshire (1st and 3rd Saturdays 8 till 2)

Ely, Cambridgeshire (2nd and 4th Saturdays 8 till 2)

Sundays:

Alexandra Palace, north London (10 till 3)