Hobbs Family
UPDATE After only three days, our nectarines have finished…and after two days our Moorparks have finished as well 
We had a huge amount of new customers during these days which has caused their early demise..sadly many of our regulars who never had a chance to get up on time.
I’m in a hurry to post this to warn everyone who is planning to come up for Moorparks and nectarines so I have missed discussing about other varieties which are still to come on so will talk about them next time. We feel dreadful that this has happened 
We still have a small amount of Roxburgh Red and Stevens Favourite apricots left for PYO but am fairly sure these will get picked out tomorrow. Certainly not worth travelling a long distance.
So tomorrow we will have boxed apricots for stewing only and boxes for eating and cooking. These apricots come from another part of the Orchard, not from the PYO areas as these areas are nurtured and saved for our customers.
Sam just told me Billington plums will be ready in about 2 or 3 days.
This lack of really hot days has certainly hindered the ripening process in all varieties.
Our very early apples, Red Gravenstein, are maybe a week or more away.
The Shiro’s were affected by the early nasty weather so are non existent 
Bon Chretien (Bartlett) pears will be later, at the moment I think about second week in February 
Hawera plums are still a couple of weeks away.
Cox’s Orange and Royal Gala apples will be later too as will all the other apple varieties.
Black Doris are late as well – so maybe mid-February.
Orders are being taken for these from now on.
Will keep you posted about what is happening on the Orchard. Please ring/txt me, Ruby, anytime and I will give you up- to-date reports on weather, fruit or anything else
Fruit Update:
I’m fairly sure PYO Roxburgh Red apricots will finish later on today.
We had expected to have them for all of the weekend but some very serious “bottlers” turned up last night and picked many hundreds of kilos of Roxburgh Red apricots.
PYO Moorparks will finally start on Wednesday.
PYO Nectarines will start on Tuesday.
This nectarines won’t be here for long as there is a huge amount of people wanting them so obviously some will miss out, but there is plenty of nectarines at other Stalls in the Valley, should this happen.
Note: For Hawkers and those who onsell are not permitted to pick in our Orchard as this fruit is for individuals and families only.
Mum and I are off to pack the Stall so you will find boxed Peeka, Valley Gold and Sundrop apricots on the Stall today.
You will like our prices 
Contact me, Ruby, for any fruit enquiries on 027 288 6090.
Fruit Update….Sunday 15th January
It has been a busy four days since the PYO Sundrops began – so busy that there are only Sundrops at the the top of the trees left in the PYO area these will still be available for the next day or so.
these will still be available for the next day or so.As everyone knows ladders are always available but remember they are only for adult use, definitely not children 
As our Sundrops on the Fruit Stall are picked from another area, there will still be plenty in boxes on the Stall
PYO Roxburgh Red apricots will commence this coming Wednesday, 18 January 
They are a very old variety and they are great bottled, frozen and cooked up as Jam 
They are not a flash looking apricot but if you can get past the fact they easily mark and/or have cracks in some of them, they are well worth it.
Our great tasting Peeka apricots will be on the Stall as from Thursday 19th.
They are a small apricot and great for both cooking and eating.
Great for bottling as many can fit in the jars and also easy for packing in bags for the freezer as they are a very clean apricot.
Taking Courier orders for them now but for the next day or two only.
PYO nectarines may be ready before the Moorparks.
They may be ready by next weekend. ……Will keep you posted
Sam has assured me that the PYO Moorparks are about 9-12 days away.
Absolutely ridiculous starting this late.
Will keep you posted.
Billington plums should be ready in a week so hopefully by next weekend – will keep you posted.
PYO Stevens Favourite apricots are about 8 or 9 days away…will keep you posted.
Valley Gold apricots are still a few days away.
You know the drill, text/ring me Ruby anytime on 027 288 6090 – don’t even think it’s a bother
Remember we are open from 7am-9pm every day and we only sell what we grow
Weather and fruit update
It was a very interesting afternoon here with very heavy rain, and some thunder and lightening thrown into the mix!
But all is not lost!
But all is not lost!The next few days are fine – rain free! – and hopefully this pattern will be on a continual basis.
Many apricots were picked before the rain as we cant pick in the rain so our Fruit Stall will be fully stocked as usual with 7kg 1st grade boxes and 6.5kg 2nd grade boxes and 2.5kg bags.
PYO will definitely start on Thursday the 12th
Remember to bring your own containers whether they be shopping bags, buckets, cardboard boxes or whatever. 
We sell shopping bags at the Stall @ $1-00 each – which is the price we paid for them – if you forget your own.
Remember to report in at the Fruit Stall before entering the Orchard and we will give you picking and safety instructions.
Ring me, Ruby on 027 288 6090, anytime for weather updates, fruit queries.
Remember we are open 7 days a week – from 7am – 9pm
Sundrop apricots
Great news – the Sun yesterday has meant Sam is selective picking apricots from the tops of a few trees for the Fruit Stall 
Sooo we now have Sundrops in all different size bags and boxes 
You will.like our prices!
You will.like our prices!Fingers crossed this beautiful weather keeps up to ripen up more apricots so I can start sending out Sundrop courier orders and organizing pickup orders from next week.
I’ll be in contact with you all individually as to when your orders are ready to be sent/picked up.
Wilson Early Plums are still available on the Stall and Cherries will finish later this week.
The PYO Sundrop apricots should start on the 12th January when there is even ripeness throughout the trees will confirm closer to the time.
Sundrops are versatile apricots – preserving, jam, chutney, sauce, fresh eating.
For those who don’t preserve, freezing is so simple.
Use freezer bags – just halve the apricot, take the stone out and chuck them in! 
Some freeze in small amounts for their smoothies, whilst others freeze large bags for stewed apricots.
Always remember to cook from frozen,adding water and sugar 
If you make smoothies, freeze one layer flat in a freezer bag ..when you need them, break up and add to smoothie ingredients..you then won’t need any ice.
Contact me, Ruby 027 288 6090 anytime to place an order or enquire about prices, fruit,etc. 
Remember our hours are 7am-9pm and we only sell what we grow
Fruit Update The sun has poked its head out of the clouds and is shining brightly today 
Actually it has been very hot and sunny over the past few days – a much welcome relief
Cherries are still available and we should have them until roughly next Wednesday or Thursday
However if you miss out you can still get them at other Stalls in the Valley.
Wilsons Early Plums are now available on the Stall. They are yellow flesh with red skin – a favourite amongst kids as they have a very sweet flavour
At the moment it looks like Sundrops and Earli Ril apricots will be available on the Stall about 4th or 5th January – depending on the weather in the next few days.
All going well, we should start PYO Sundrop apricots about the 12th or 14th of January.
All other apricot varieties – Roxburgh Red, Moorpark, Stevens Favourite, will start ripening throughout January. All the other varieties of plums are still to come on.
I will keep you all updated as they come on
But feel free to txt or phone me – 027 288 6090 – anytime for fruit or weather updates.
Remember we are open every day from 7am-9pm and we only sell what we grow
Tomorrow – Thursday 22 December – we will finally open for the Fruit Season!!
The recent cool weather has delayed the fruit from ripening, hence we are opening a bit later than usual, but now grateful thanks goes out to the Sun which is finally playing the game Here’s proof that we have a lovely day 
Here’s proof that we have a lovely day 1kg punnets of Cherries and 2kg bags of New Spuds will be available on the Stall 
Sundrop and Earli Ril apricots are on track to be on the Fruit Stall in early January with PYO starting a few days later, all depending on the weather, of course.
I am taking pre-orders for Sundrop apricots, whether courier or pick-up, and will be in touch when they are ready to go
Our gas-powered bird scarer, Big Bertha, is still doing a great job of keeping the birds away from the cherries so don’t be alarmed if you hear the ‘boom’.
Ring/txt me, Ruby – 0272886090 – for any enquiries, whether it be fruit related or just a weather forecast 
Remember we only sell what we grow and our hours are 7am-9pm. Open every day from tomorrow until May.
We started frost fighting at 8pm last night and only shut off at 11am this morning a very long frost 
it looks like we will have another frost tonight and tomorrow night
a very long frost it looks like we will have another frost tonight and tomorrow night Our new pump ‘Matilda’ did an amazing job – here’s a few photos I took this morning
Belle
Our gorgeous sister/daughter, Belle, passed away Thursday morning at home with the District Nurse Michelle, Mum and I at her side.
It was sudden and unexpected as she had only been ill for a few hours.
We are just broken hearted and in shock as she was such a wee darling – Sam and I have never known life without her. Our poor Mum…
Belle’s love for us and Mum was immense as was our love for her – she brought sunshine into our lives everyday.
Belle was non-verbal but this didn’t stop her from communicating or living life to her fullest. She was passionate about artwork, bird watching and identification, lego, animals, and absolutely adored The Wiggles and rides on my Kawasaki mule.
Sadly, a while ago dementia began its dreadful cruel journey so she clung to us even more – we were her security blanket. We just loved her so much.
She communicated by way of ‘facial expressions’ ‘one word phrases’ and ‘sign language’ which Mum taught her just prior to her mastering the art of walking only weeks after her 5th Birthday.
As we are so grief stricken we have decided not to have a Funeral Service but further down the track we will have a get together with friends.
