Grower profile: Richard 'Dick' Sedgwick

Orchard name: Mutaroo & Jilba

Brief history...
Dick bought his first 18 acre orchard in 1961 and now has over 120 acres in two separate orchards.

How long have the Sedgwick's been growing Batlow Apples?
Our family has been gowing Batlow Apples since the early 1920's. Dick is a 3rd generation Batlow Apple grower with his grandfather purchasing Ardrossan orchard following WW1 in the early 1920's. His father and mother lived on the orchard after they got married in 1929.

Is there a history to the orchard?
see above

What varieties are grown at Mutaroo/Jilba?
Red Delicious, Fuji, Pink Lady, Bonza, Braeburn, Sundowner, Jonagold, Gala, Granny Smith and Jonathan.

Life in Batlow for a grower...
Dick reckons he would rather grow apples in Batlow than live in Sydney any day! He also believes that the Batlow community would not be as strong as it is without the Co-operative and apple growers.

Why are you proud to be part of Batlow Fruit Cooperative?
The Co-operative is a premier apple growing organisation and leader in the field regarding growing, storage and packing of apples. The structure allows for more freedom than being a grower/packer. Our name gives volume to our marketing efforts and allows superior market access opportunities. Batlow Apples is a brand that all BFCL growers can be proud of and is what sets us apart from our competitors. The impact the Co-operative on the wider Batlow community is often underestimated as is its contribution to the wider apple growing industry.