Fruitlink (Wisbech) Ltd is a grower owned and managed apple and pear producing co-operative with members located around Wisbech in the East of England. The organisation was started by a handful of local growers in 1973, who co-ordinated crop production to meet the needs of wholesale markets and fruit processors. In 1985 Fruitlink growers opened a central packhouse in Wisbech, which created the opportunity to supply the retail sector directly.

1995 brought further developments with the opening of a new purpose built packing facility in Wisbech, and in 2002, a marketing agreement was made with Empire World Trade Ltd, based in Spalding, to handle all fresh fruit sales. In addition to the central packhouse in Wisbech, there are three approved packhouses on member’s farms.

Fruitlink is an officially recognised Producer Organisation, with members registered under the Assured Produce Scheme and packhouses meeting British Retail Consortium accreditation.

Apart from Conference Pears, and the apple varieties Cox, Gala and Braeburn, our members specialise in the production of the cooking apple Bramley’s Seedling. The Bramley is a uniquely British apple variety which is particularly suited to the climate and the rich deep soils of the Fens. Fruitlink growers grow 10% of the UK crop and are significant subscribers to the Bramley Campaign which promotes the use of Bramley.

Our growers are constantly striving to improve production techniques with annual investment in new orchard systems and new varieties, to produce quality products in line with consumer preferences.

We supply apples and pears to British supermarkets, wholesalers, independent retailers, food service companies and processors.

Our growers are investing in new orchards and continuing to replant existing orchards with pears, dessert varieties and Bramley. Growers are using high yielding, low maintenance systems to bring trees into cropping early and to produce quality products. Improvements in storage and packing facilities will continue on farm allowing Fruitlink to focus on local production and minimal food miles.