The sun shone again on our IFST party of 12 delegates who gathered on a small yet prestigious & historic piece of land on the edge of Tiptree to tour the jam factory of Wilkin & Sons followed by a visit to the adjacent soft fruit growing orchards and plantations where our group was invited to pick and eat strawberries and cherries straight from the vine.
As usual the tour, hosted by Robert Parker Head of Technical, was a privileged insight into the current practices of a modern process that captures the essentials of quality, tradition and leading edge thinking in the sourcing, processing and marketing of jams, preserves, marmalades, ketchups, chutneys, sauces and honey. The most recently installed growing systems at Tiptree have increased the density of strawberry plants per hectare x4 and of the many million small jars produced at Tiptree each year the group learnt approx. 15% are different types of honey. Once the tour was finished, delegates had the opportunity to visit the onsite museum ( a fascinating look back in time over 132 years of jam production at Tiptree ) or visit the onsite shop or take a light lunch / cream tea in the onsite tea room. A most enjoyable day out.