Today the Year 12 and 13 Food and Nutrition class visited an orchard in Ettrick. Mark Darling the owner of the orchard spoke to the class about his orchard business, the different fruits he grows and how he prepares it for export all around the world. He gave us a detailed explanation of the work required on the fruit trees during each of the four seasons and also the fertiliser and spraying regimes  that are carried out at the orchard.
The fruit that is not sold on the overseas market is sold locally in his shop which is on the main road through Ettrick. Fruit that is unable to be sold is made into fruit juices which is also sold in the shop.
We then travelled up to one of Mark's orchards near Roxburgh where we got the opportunity to pick apricots and eat some to of course!!! Mark generously gave us plenty to take back and once back at school we cut them up and placed them in bags to be frozen. The apricots will be used in jams, sauces and various other preserves during the term.

Preparing all the apricots for freezing.