Number 19 Map 1B The Hawkesbury Harvest Farm Gate Trail Maps
The air is scented with pine and the sweet tang of citrus fruit as I walk up the long drive to the packing shed where I am to meet with Darryl and Lyn Schofield.
The packing shed is large and noisy with conveyor belts moving a seemingly endless supply of oranges around the shed. Darryl is driving a forklift, effortlessly shifting pallets and stacking them high and neatly. These boxes of oranges are destined for the Flemington Markets.
Lyn and I wander outside to talk in the sun.
The 32 acre orchard was established over 50 years ago by Darryl's parents and is run by the senior Schofields, Darryl and Lyn and Darryl's brother. Darryl has worked here all his life, since he was a young boy.
The Schofields work 6 days a week, tending to their navel oranges and sweet imperial mandarins.
The mandarins are in season from June to August and the oranges run from May to December. Once the oranges are finished the couple work on maintenance until the season commences again in May. It is no surprise to learn that Darryl and Lyn have not had a holiday for some years. Darryl's parents, now in their nineties, also continue to work in the orchard.
Lyn is passionate about the importance of the general public supporting producers like the Schofields. She has noticed that more and more people are coming to their stall, finding them through the Hawkesbury Harvest website. The feedback she receives indicates that people see the Farm Gate Trail as a break from the city and an opportunity to buy competitively priced, fresh produce.
"People don't realise how they are cutting their own throats if the farmers stop producing due to lack of support," she says.
She tells me that as far as the eye could see was originally all orange orchards, but now other commercial interests have taken over.
"We are basically here for the love of it," Lyn continues. She explains that the prices of fruit have not changed much in thirty years but other costs associated with the industry have of course increased greatly in that time.
"Will your daughters take over the orchard?" I ask Lyn.
"No," she responds. "There is no money in it. When we go the gates will close."
That will not be happening any time soon thank goodness...
The Schofields opened a stall three years ago in conjunction with the Farm Gate Trail (42Yarramundi Lane, Richmond). From the stall they sell their own fruit together with whatever produce they can source locally from friends and neighbours. Depending on the season this can include peaches, nectarines, strawberries, tomatoes, eggs, garlic, apples, pecan nuts and local honey.
42 Yarramundi Lane
Richmond
0408 029 988
Please visit the Hawkesbury Harvest website
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