Kevin Jackson’s dedication to innovation has ensured his fourth-generation Cromwell enterprise Jackson Orchards continues to expand and develop as one of Central Otago’s largest fruit growing ventures.

The property on the Luggate-Cromwell highway grows cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums, greengages, apples and pears while the onsite packhouse and store is a significant attraction.

“The packhouse is a hive of activity throughout the year as we operate more than 200 tonnes of stone and pip fruit and around 10-15 tonnes of cherries over the grading systems,” says Kevin. “We have the longest season of any orchard in the country with all our fruit sold domestically.”

“We’re harvesting for approximately five months with the fruit stall, tours and ice-cream kiosk open all year round. People love to stop and see the operation, taste the fruit and other produce on sale while the ice-creams sell themselves.”

Exclusive tours

Jackson Orchards is alive with vibrant autumn colours during March, April and May. 

“In autumn the packhouse is processing our apples and pears over the grader along with walnuts from our own trees with some over 100 years old,” says owner Kevin Jackson. “The orchard tours operate daily where visitors can hop on board one of our electric buses for a fun, informative insight including fruit picking to packhouse grading.” Tours can be pre-booked online or instore.

Local produce instore

Jackson Orchards’ expansive store offers a wide range of their own fresh and dried fruits alongside vegetables and artisan food products from local producers.

“ We’ve recently introduced new skincare products from local company Earth Row,” says store manager Ginge Cowie. “They are hand poured in Cromwell offering small batch, vegan skincare that is nourishing and renewing for all skin types.”

 Lady Alchemy Condiments including sauces, salads, dressings, pickles and finishing salts made from naturally infused clean ingredients are also new to the store.

“Hugely popular are our own dried apricots, nuts and other dried goods, daily fresh bread from the European Bakery, Central Otago honeys and seasonal Red Bridge berries,” says Ginge.

Tutti Frutti

The Jackson Orchards fresh fruit ice-cream kiosk sells over 70,000 ice creams a season from its dedicated outdoor kiosk beside the retail store.

“We have mango, strawberry, blueberry, boysenberry, passionfruit, banana, hokeypokey, raspberry, apricot and cherry with the most popular flavour being mixed berry,” says owner Kevin Jackson. “We use our own apricots for the ice cream and customers can choose up to two flavours which are blended and swirled into one of three waffle cone sizes. They are delicious and a huge drawcard for the store.”