A Boxall & Son and Well Pict supplying strawberries to ASDA for 10 years

Mr David Boxall announced today that he was retiring from the apple industry and had sold “Griffin Farm” and packhouse based in Sutton Valence in Kent.

It is a well known fact that the Boxall family, Andrew in particular, had been growing the finest strawberries in Kent and that in the past 10 years Andrew had been supplying “Local” strawberries to ASDA in Kent.

Andrew had been concerned about the loss of his prized strawberry fields and as a consequence, in conjunction with Well Pict European, he is carrying on managing the strawberry production under a new company A. Boxall and Son to continue the family tradition.
 
 

“This is exciting news for all at Wellpict as his expertise is not lost and he will be in a position as Director of Wellpict –County Local to continue to pass on his expertise and knowledge to all concerned within the Well Pict group and continue to commit his strawberries to ASDA” said Aurel Voiculescu Director of Well Pict European.

Andrew said “this is a very positive step forward for my family and me as I shall still be a grower of the finest strawberries and I will be able to be personally involved in developing the strawberry market in Kent and the rest of the UK”

On a technical side Andrew is well known to most growers in the UK as he has developed one of the most sophisticated growing systems in the world. Andrew has also developed his production techniques to maximise the quality and quantity of fruit grown quite significantly over recent years. “Our strawberries are produced using a table top system designed by our own farm (a system that is now being sold across the country to various other growers that I know) and our table top system can be modified to accommodate many different types of growing medium. As well as being one of the cheapest systems on the market, it can easily be erected by one person without the need for machinery. It has taken us 5 years but we have finally designed a growing method that will maximise our yield and quality, whilst reducing our labour cost. This system can be purchased from Crop pro Tech Limited.”

Most of his strawberry fields double crop and the logistical importance of plant movement have been improved so that they are now able to turn around 2 crops in a matter of days. A key aspect to this system is that it addresses the Health and Safety at Work Act as the pickers do not have to bend and pick strawberries off the ground thus avoiding potential back injuries caused by stooping. The strawberries that are ready for picking can easily be selected or graded as the strawberries are grown at eye level on the table tops. Since the strawberry plants are off the ground they can be easily maintained and kept free of possible soil or insect contamination.

Aurel Voiculescu Director of Well Pict European said “The formation of A. Boxall and Son maintains the family tradition and is exciting for all of us at Well Pict as we are proud to be able to continue to supply our customers with the finest strawberries from Kent”

19th of March 2008.

Contact: Aurel Voiculescu
Well Pict European Limited
Unit 3
Honeybourne Ind Estate
Nr Evesham
WR11 7QF
Tel: 01386 832 926
Web: http://www.wellpict-european.com