The innovative yet simple concept of grafting different fruits to the one tree 20 years ago resulted in the birth of the Fruit Salad Tree Company.
Since then the business has flourished Australia wide. This weekend will be the 10th anniversary of exhibiting at the Sydney Gardening Australia Expo for Emmaville couple James and Kerry West.
Originally sheep farmers, struggling with the drop in wool prices and simultaneous drought two decades ago, the couple, whose property is 20km from Emmaville, could not afford to buy fruit trees. Mr West decided to learn how to grow their own fruit trees, from a book. He soon began experimenting with different varieties of trees. From 30 suckers, 29 were successful; as was the birth of the Fruit Salad Tree.
“We thought wow, why hasn’t anyone thought of this before,” Mrs West said. “We gave it the name fruit salad because of the variety of stone fruits and soon began experimenting with citrus versions. It took us awhile to build up our stock and for people to believe the trees.”
From the local markets to the markets in Tamworth, Armidale, Lismore and Moree to finally exhibiting at garden shows in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, the couple have featured in numerous gardening magazines, newspapers and television programs such as Bourke’s Backyard. An advertisement in the Trading Post launched their annual journey to the Sydney Gardening Australia Expo.
“It started from a crazy ad in the Trading Post,” Mrs West said. “Because we don’t supply nurseries, James asked me to put the ad in and I said you can’t put a tree in the Trading Post. What section would you put it in? he said miscellaneous. A woman associated with then major sponsor 2UE rang and we became involved with the show.”
“Bit by bit we have grown.We are really happy to be getting the exposure as we live in an isolated area. We have thought about moving, we have been here 29 years. As we get older it is getting harder to generate our own water and electricity. A frost can set us back a few months and it is hard to get workers.”
Since their four children have all left the nest, two years ago the couple found a way to get help through a learning English/working holiday exchange program. Over the years, 14 people from Japan and South Korea have come to live with the West’s on three-month exchanges. They have English lessons in the mornings and horticulture lessons in the afternoon where they learn to graft, prune and basic nursery work.
One of four garden shows the couple will exhibit at in the next eight weeks, the three day Sydney Gardening Australia Expo commences tomorrow. The West’s have packaged 250 trees to sell. They will take customer orders and give grafting and multiple grafting demonstrations.
“Although the name Fruit Salad Tree is trademarked, its not a secret,” Mrs West said. “Grafting has been done for thousands of years, but there is special care points with multiple grafting to ensure one fruit does not dominate.”
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