Hard work bearing fruit in Stamullen
November 27, 2011There's a beautiful symmetry between the two loves of Pat Clarke's life: in the 1960s, he played football for St Pat's, winning a Feis Cup; he also established Clarke's Fresh Fruit at the beginning of that decade.
It would certainly be no exaggeration to say that Clarke's Fresh Fruit is one of Meath's most natural, organic and healthy indigenous success stories. Since its genesis half a century ago, on the outskirts of Stamullen village, Pat Clarke's brainchild has gone from strength to strength to the extent that it is now Ireland's premier producer and supplier of fresh fruit.
Like many successful businessmen, Pat started out from very humble beginnings, as he recounts: "I started the business up at my parents' home place while I was still at national school - with ten rows, thirty feet long - growing strawberries which I sold for pocket money. Of course, as a young lad I always ate a few of the strawberries myself and I still eat them every day! Today, all the fruit is still grown here on the family farm."
Over the course of 50 years, Clarke's Fresh Fruit has forged a stellar reputation for itself as the nation's No.1 supplier of premium fruit. Delicious strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries are grown on the 50-acre farm, where the most-advanced technologies are deployed to ensure perfect results every time. Approximately 700 tons of fresh fruit are produced annually and - as a Bord Bia quality-assured soft fruit producer - Pat prides himself on delivering top-quality, flavoursome fruit to the consumer at all times.
"All our fruit is stem-picked freshly and despatched on the same day to ensure that the customer gets the freshest possible produce," Pat continues. "From May through until November, we produce fruit seven days a week and we would employ over 100 people." An astonishing figure in the times that are in it - and that's not to mention the indirect employment generated by this market-leading enterprise.
Clarke's Fresh Fruit is available nationwide in large multiples - Dunnes, Superquinn, Aldi, Lidl, etc. - as well as independent outlets and is also sold into the wholesale market. The produce is on the shelf nationwide on the same day that it is picked. It is also sold locally at the farm gate.
Needless to say, Pat is delighted with how the business has taken off: "It started as an experiment, really. In this area, everybody grew fruit for the Dublin market to supplement their income and that's how I started off. Today, however, fruit isn't a luxury product anymore; it has become an essential part of a healthy diet. Strawberries are a superfruit and more and more people are starting to realise this, they are going for fresh fruit with no air miles - you can't get better."
In 1983, Pat introduced the El Santa variety to Ireland and the very first of those berries were sold in the Dublin Market on July 25th that year. With an excellent flavour, firm texture and impressive shelf life, El Santa is now used for 80% of strawberry production in Ireland. Clarke's Fresh Fruit has been voted Bord Bia Fruit Grower of the Year on many occasions and captured the prestigious overall Grower of the Year award in 2010.
Acquiring expertise and knowledge through ongoing assessment of current trends, from a national and global perspective, ensures high standards are maintained. Cropping techniques are monitored closely and constantly evaluated, while the use of organic compost and certified plants ensures quality, tasteful berries. All the fruit is grown indoors with feeding taking place through the roots by irrigation. Strict quality control is implemented and sustained by a highly-trained, experienced workforce, which uses stem-picking techniques to ensure minimal handling.
A new brand of 100% fruit jam has also been developed. The jam is specially made by Follain, Macroom, County Cork from wholesome fruit grown by Clarke's.
Selected on merit for quality and reputation, Clarke's Fresh Fruit was chosen earlier this year to supply quality royal strawberries for the state dinner at Dublin Castle in honour of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh on May 18th. Commendations don't come any higher!
Of course, Clarke's Fresh Fruit is not completely immune to the economic downturn, as Pat relates: "This can be a hard business as we produce a perishable product and you need the right weather conditions. We are squeezed on prices with the recession but we have an excellent product. It was a great honour to be chosen to supply the Queen's banquet. Our high standards have been reflected in many awards - as well as the Fruit Grower awards, we were also voted Family Farm of the Year in 1997 and Family Farm of the Millennium in 2000."
Up until recently, Pat also kept a herd of cows on the family farm and his motto was 'Strawberries and Cream - the perfect match'.
As well as employing a large number of local people, Pat gives as much as he can back into the local community in terms of sponsorships etc. The local GAA club is one of the many bodies to benefit from his generosity. "We had a fundraiser for the local church this year and we support the local GAA club throughout the year".
Pat Clarke played football for Stamullen in the 1960s, winning a Feis Cup in 1968 / 69. He attends every club match he can and is a well-known face at Pat's matches around the county. "The club is absolutely fantastic," he enthuses. "It does so much positive work for the local community. It provides the young people with an excellent service and you really have to admire all the club volunteers who put so much time and effort into it.
"We at Clarke's Fresh Fruit would like to take this opportunity to congratulate St Patrick's Football Club on their wonderful new complex, with special acknowledgement to the dedicated committee who made it possible. We trust it will provide decades of enjoyment for everyone involved. It's a wonderful asset to the local community."
Pat is also a loyal and proud Meath supporter and an admirer of good football in general: "I love going to matches. I find football to be very therapeutic. I went to the All-Ireland final this year and I would go to a good game of football anywhere. There's nothing better than a good football match. I think there's still a lot to be said for the long kick but they don't use that so much anymore because players are super-fit and the game is almost semi-professional." Tweet
