Hobbs Family
The weather hasn’t played ball this week, but finally today the very first Sundrop apricots on the top of the trees are ready! 
Hence we will have boxed Sundrop apricots on the Fruit Stall as from tomorrow as well as Earli Ril apricots Both varieties are great for eating, bottling, jam, chutney and freezing 
Both varieties are great for eating, bottling, jam, chutney and freezing PYO Sundrops seems to be on track for about the 10th January – will keep you posted 
We still have new spuds and the very last of our cherries 
The first variety of nectarines are still a week away but hope to have them on the Stall later next week
Roxburgh Red, Moorpark, Stevens Favourite, Valley Gold and Peeka apricots are still 2-3 weeks away – will keep you updated
TXT or phone me (Ruby) anytime for fruit queries on 027 288 6090 
Open 7 days
7am – 9pm
From now until June 2022
? Urgent Update ?
We have sustained severe damage to our cherry crop, due to the continuous rain we endured last Thursday and Friday? Only yesterday did it become evident as to how much damage we sustained ?
Because of this we won’t have any cherries available on the Fruit Stall until Boxing Day at the very earliest – another variety of cherries is ripening up which thankfully were not harmed by the rain as they were too green! ?
All existing courier and pick up orders will be fulfilled ?
Our Stall will be opening on Tuesday with new potatoes of which we have a plentiful supply.
On a brighter note our Sundrop apricots are colouring and sizing well so we are looking forward to starting them in early January ?
Will keep you posted!
The weather certainly rules our lives! ?????
Send me a txt or ring, Ruby on 027 288 6090 if you have any queries ?
Opening Day Delay
Due to the lack of sun over the past ten days we are forced to delay the opening of the Fruit Stall to next Tuesday the 21st of December.
Every day we kept hoping the sun would turn up but alas we were let down.
No worries with the “Courier Orders”, they will still leave here early next week and all “Pick up Orders” are still on track for next week
So next Tuesday we will Open with “New Spuds” and Cherries
I am often asked about Parking 
For those who haven’t been here before, when you turn off Teviot Road, where our Welcome sign is, you will find an “Entrance” sign halfway up our driveway.
Our Parking Area is huge – cars with caravans or boats, trucks and buses can turn with ease as we have an Exit so one doesn’t have to do a three point turn to get out of here 
My Mum, Sandra, designed the roundabout over thirty years ago when she was establishing our massive garden which I always refer to as ‘our peaceful haven’. 
The apricots are ripening well – should have them on the Fruit Stall by about the 10th January. PYO apricots should be all go by then
The early plums are ripening slowly so hopefully they will ripen by the 10th as well.
I will keep you posted
Remember you can always txt or phone me anytime,
(Ruby – 027 288 6090) for fruit queries, orders, weather reports or to catch up 
Bird cannons!!!
Our bird scarers, Big Bertha and Captain Jack, our gas-fired bird scarers, are being cranked up shortly in the Cherry block
They are so excited 
The birds have finally realised what is under the nets and are in attack mode 
They are a bit late this year, much to our joy
They are a bit late this year, much to our joy If you are driving past, please remember that they are gas-fired, nobody is being harmed
They certainly don’t do any damage to birds or people 
Update
We are looking forward to the 18th December, when we open for the Season with our early spuds and cherries
We welcome everyone whether you are vaccinated or not.
Signing in/scanning and masks are compulsory for everyone over the age of twelve, as this is mandatory.
You will not need a Vaccine Pass
It was vital for us as a family to be vaccinated as we have two family members who are immune compromised.
We never thought for a minute this would be an issue for anyone.
Sadly we were proved wrong as my mum, Sandra and I were confronted by an elderly woman in the driveway the other day, who laughed in our faces and told us we would all die because we were ‘jabbed’ 
It was most distressing to listen to her cruelty. She just wouldn’t stop!
Her parting shot was she would never buy her fruit from us again.
We never thought for a minute we might lose customers over the fact that we are vaccinated.
We have friends and customers who are anti-vax and not one of them has ever mocked or laughed at us over our decision to be vaccinated and obviously we have never laughed or mocked them for their decision not to vaccinate so hopefully this was an isolated case.
Respect and kindness is all that is needed in these harrowing times as we are all in this together, trying to muddle through the best way we can 
The 1 metre distance rule will be easy to maintain as we have changed the layout of the Fruit Stall.
We have seats out the side so you can still relax before your journey home and there are seats in the front of the Fruit Stall as well
Remember you are welcome to bring your blanket/deck chairs, if you would like to picnic in the Orchard or in our garden area
Hopefully our PYO apricots will be all go from about the 10th January
This date will be brought forward if the lovely weather keeps up.
Will keep you posted
We really hope to see everyone back again this year.
Remember contact me, Ruby, anytime, on 027 288 6090 for fruit updates, orders, weather reports or just to catch up
Lately I have received a lot of calls from people who have health hassles which puts their immune systems at risk and they want to know what our Fruit Stall Policy is for keeping them safe?
It is a fair question and as we have many customers/friends of all ages, ranging from very young children through to the very elderly, who are immune compromised, we have always catered for their needs by providing a safe fruit shopping environment.
The entrance sliding door, which is the width of our Fruit Stall, is always open as is the side door for continuous air flow plus all surfaces are wiped down on a continual basis.
Hand sanitiser and hand-washing is also a priority for us.
We encourage customers not to handle or squeeze the fruit which ensures total food safety.
Fruit is packed with great care using disposable gloves.
Hygiene is paramount and this has always been the case
The Stall is accessible for walking frames and wheelchairs.
For those who don’t want to come inside the Fruit Stall we are happy for them to sit outside either in the front of the Fruit Stall in the seats provided or in the garden area out the side.
My Mum, Sandra, and I are more than happy to take your orders from there
During the Lockdown period early last year, Orders were placed on a table outside the Fruit Stall area, with an Invoice popped inside each box so if anybody wants to use this method we are more than happy with this
Whatever method you want to use we will work in with you as nothing is a hassle at our Fruit Stall
And I nearly forgot – customers can PM/TXT or ‘WhatsApp’ me (Ruby…027 288 6090) and I can send photos of what we have available or I can just let you know what fruit is available on the day 
The days for Courier Orders are either Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday and these orders must be placed the day before and “Fruit Stall pick up Orders” must be placed the day before as well.
Roll on the 18th December when we will open with new spuds and cherries so looking forward to this Fruit Season which will go through to June 2022
so looking forward to this Fruit Season which will go through to June 2022 Remember we will be open 7 days a week from 7am – 9pm and we only sell what we grow 
Frost fighting!!
At 3am this morning we cranked up “Little Toot”, our loyal frost fighting tractor, as the temperatures dropped to -1.5 and we ran “Little Toot“ until 8:20am 
Fortunately it was a very light frost
Fortunately it was a very light frost Both Sam and I were up from 10pm last night – he is in charge of frost fighting at another Orchard in Roxburgh East, so my job is to continually check all the cold spots in the Orchard
So from 3am it was all go
My job from then on is to keep an eye on the place until we shut down – two of my cats kept me company all night whilst I was patrolling 
Here’s some photos of the blossoms cocooned in the ice 
Here’s some Autumn photos I took yesterday ??
Granny Smith apples are now available on the Stall ?? Splendour and Braeburn apples are still in plentiful supply ??
Both Braeburn and Granny Smith are great for eating and cooking and Splendour apples are a delicious eating apple ?
Quinces, Red Delicious and Golden Delicious apples will be all finished by the weekend ?
All apple varieties are available in 5kg and 10kg bags as well as 2nd grade boxes?
Also couriering boxes in 10kg and 15kg boxes – I send out fruit every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday ??
Contact me (Ruby) on 0272886090 if you want a fruit update, weather update, or to place an order, etc. ??
Remember we are Open 7 days from first light until dark ?? and we only sell what we grow.????
21 April
Fruit Update Braeburn apples are now available on the Stall these are delicious for eating and cooking. We still have Red Delicious and Golden Delicious apples as well both varieties are very tasty to eat and Golden Delicious is very good for cooking.
these are delicious for eating and cooking. We still have Red Delicious and Golden Delicious apples as well both varieties are very tasty to eat and Golden Delicious is very good for cooking.All apple varieties are available in 5kg and 10kg bags and also 2nd grade boxes
Quinces are still available and will be until roughly the end of next week – so there’s still time to grab some for making quince jelly, quince paste or just cooking them up with apples for a crumble 
Splendour apples should be available from the weekend and Granny Smith apples will start next week – will confirm these dates towards the end of this week
All apple varieties and Quinces are available for courier – apples are sent in 10kg and 15kg boxes and Quinces in 5kg, 10kg and 15kg boxes. I am happy to mix and match varieties
Due to Anzac Day being observed next Monday, all courier orders will be sent out next Tuesday and Wednesday. Pm or Txt me if you would like to place an order, enquire about freight charges, etc.
Contact me (Ruby) on 0272886090 anytime if you want a fruit update, order query, weather update, etc. Remember we are open 7 days from first light until dark 
and we only sell what we grow.
and we only sell what we grow. 
Quinces are ready!
Quinces will be available from tomorrow on the Stall in 3kg bags and 5kg boxes
Cox’s Orange apples will finish at the end of this coming week – they are tree ripened hence their flavour is gorgeous if you like a sweet apple
Royal Gala apples and Golden Delicious are still available in plentiful supply
All apples are available in 5kg and 10kg bags and also 2nd grade boxes
Red Delicious should be ready in about a week’s time – Braeburn apples will begin roughly on the 10th April, with Splendour apples not too far behind
We will also have a limited amount 2nd grade boxes of Golden Queen Peaches this coming week.
To all our people on our Golden Queen Peach list, I will contact you when your order is ready to be picked up or to be couriered
Due to Easter Holidays, courier orders will only be sent on Monday and Tuesday this week 
Apples are couriered in either 10kg or 15kg boxes and Quinces in 5kg, 10kg and 15kg boxes – I’m more than happy to combine quinces and apples together if you only require a smaller amount of each – just pm/txt me with your order
We also have small Royal Gala apples available on the Fruit Stall at a cheaper price, which are ideal for wee kids lunchboxes I can also courier these out, however only in 15kg boxes.
I can also courier these out, however only in 15kg boxes.Txt/ring me, Ruby, on 0272886090 anytime if you want a fruit update, order query, weather update, etc.
Remember we are open 7 days from first light until dark 
and we only sell what we grow.
until dark and we only sell what we grow.
