A family farming business is hoping to secure its long-term future by coaxing in more tourists and catering for a growing market of customers wishing to buy local produce.
A.J Busby wants to create a farm shop, pick-your-own facility, café, children’s activity area, dog walking area and associated car parking on land to the northeast of its Billington Farm site near Stafford.
The pick-your-own business is projected to contribute 10 per cent to the overall farming business.
According to plans submitted to Stafford Borough Council, the venture could create eight full-time jobs for local people.
The farm is family-owned, with the current business operated by John and Helen Busby, the third generation of the family to be farming at Billington.
It has a long history of growing soft fruits and originally provided a pick-your-own service before committing to supply large supermarkets in the 1980s.
A planning statement reads: “In order to support the viability of the business going forward, in these particularly testing times for farmers, the business plan involves attracting direct customers, growing the brand, providing a destination location whilst supporting the farming income of the holding.
“In order to achieve this, the family need to further diversify and have identified a gap in the market for a farm shop facility in this area showcasing own grown fruit and offering family friendly activities which in turn will help grow the rural economy.”
As well as attracting tourists and providing a place for local people to visit, the plans also aim to promote the benefit of local food and food provenance.
The farm currently has 120 acres devoted to growing strawberries, 42 acres for raspberries, 33 acres for cherries and 45 acres for blueberries.
Customers would be able to pick their own strawberries and raspberries but also buy ready-picked cherries and blueberries.
The business has invested in new poly tunnels with an eco-friendly ground source heat recovery system which means that soft fruit going forward can be grown from late March to late November.
There are also hope of running the facility all year round by growing pumpkins and Christmas trees.
The business, which has been operating for over 45 years, employs 15 full time members of staff and around 150 fruit pickers in peak season.
