A visit to the orchard

Members of the Pre-Prep and Prep Gardening Clubs paid a visit to “My Fruit Orchard” at Atkins Farm in Great Missenden this week to learn about the process of turning apples into apple juice.

Earlier this term the girls had harvested apples from the Headmistress’s garden which they took with them to the fruit orchard so that they could make their very own Pipers’ apple juice.

Whilst at the Orchard the girls were shown how when apples arrive at the farm they are first checked and washed before they are put in a chipper machine to break them down (you need approximately ten large apples to make one bottle of juice). The pulp is then pressed to create the juice before it is put into bottles. The bottled are flash pasteurised, labels are attached and then it is ready to drink!

It was a fascinating experience for the girls to see the production process in action – they also very much enjoyed the opportunity to taste some delicious juices for themselves. We can’t wait to sample the fruits of their labour when the Pipers juice goes on sale at the Christmas Fair in December.