|
Berries and Pyramids : Visit to Pico
Farms, Egypt - February 2005
 During
the 2004 soft fruit season The Summerfruit Company organised
a number of farm visits in the UK and in Belgium for its growers.
These included various aspects of strawberry, raspberry, blueberry,
plum and cherry growing and variety trials. The growers who
attended found these visits worthwhile and informative.
The Summerfruit Company's programme of visits
for 2005 includes a trip to Pico Farms, their strawberry supplier
in Egypt. Pico Farms produces about 140 acres of strawberries
on four neighbouring farms; all crops are fertigated and are
grown in four rows on polythene mulched beds. Most of the
area is protected by low 'micro' tunnels (low plastic cloches)
with a few high Spanish tunnels. Varieties grown have the
'everbearing' characteristic, and were bred in the USA and
Israel. The farms also produce bananas, mangoes, grapes, plums,
lettuce and peppers.
There are two new packhouses with cooling
facilities; a plant propagation unit including a high health
nuclear stock facility; and a trial area where new selections
bred by Redbridge's ReDeva breeding facility are under evaluation,
and will be available for taste testing.
As well as the farm visit, growers can make
time for some sightseeing of Egypt's ancient artefacts and
archaeological sites in the world. In the Cairo area it is
possible to visit the pyramids at Giza and the pyramids and
temples at Sakara in one day and to spend a second day at
the Egyptian museum, which features the Tutankamun exhibition
plus many other artefacts dating back 5,000 years, or the
fascinating Souk (market) which makes a good evening visit.
Summerfruit Company growers can visit
Pico Farms on a four-night tour, which will give one full
day at the farm and two days of sightseeing. Summerfruit Company
growers - or those wishing to join - please call Tony Vallance,
Technical Manager Summerfruit Company on 07720
458642 for more details or see:
www.thesummerfruitcompany.co.uk
For more information on Press Releases:
Press Office ZPR:
zaria@z-pr.com
|
Floral
Business of the Year
