Jones Family Fruit Stall — Local services in Cromwell Community

Same as it has been for some considerable years. Unfortunately the fruit is nowhere near what it used to be and clear that export fruit is not offered instead the fruit picked nowadays is nowhere near getting to sweetness levels and cold stored for far too long. Fruit purchased firm rarely ever rippens to be sweet and juicy and often it's dry and stodgy. The size of fruit has consistently reduced in size compared to years ago so there is definately a reduction in quality. I understand that growing seasons vary but this can't always be the reason as this regression of quality has been a constant. Very disappointing. BTW it's a fruit stalls not just Jones Family Fruit it's evident everywhere including our supermarkets which are at times even worse with much higher prices. Bring back some care to production and provide a much respectable quality of product to local consumers other than the high demand of export standards that the industry here deems more important. Why not offer a choice of supplying your export quality to be available to NZ consumers in addition to what is currently offered? I for one would pay more if I could purchase it. Thank you for advising me you only export cherries and these are offered for sale at your stall. Could you please explain why the fruit is nowhere near the quality of fruit it once was? As I listed fruit is not juicy, poorly rippens if at all to a high quality so what's your answer to that? Yes there are variable differences to weather, cetera but overall NZ fruit is just nowhere near as it was....

It was winter, and the wind is blowing so hard it gets into the bone, and the fog was so thick eventhou the sun is shining and I need to squirt my eyes just to see a few meters in front. Then suddenly my light hit the sign pole that says "jones fruits stall". I was a bit hungry and thirsty by that time, so it doesn't seem a bad idea at all to stop by and grab something. As i get out and walking towards the stall, all of my sense's engine seems to gear up. The visual captured by my eye send electrical signal to the brain and other senses. Apples, oranges, kiwis, grapes, pears, honeys... somehow I start to smell the sweetness of the fruits, and my mouth starts to water along with the growl in my stomach. Then i met this lady, and asked her shamelessly, " could you please show me around this area and what you sell? ". Toke me by surprise, she agreed and happily walk me through the stall.

Everything fruits here is mostly self produced, and only taken from the local or imported only when needed, like when it is out of seasons (obviously), so it's fresh! Jones family also produced a very large number of cheery and one of the biggest cherry exporter in the world. Not only fruits, they also provides a wide variety of honeys. And the best of it, they also offer a very special product, Mrs.Jones Fruits Port and 7th Heaven This product made here, process here and only sold here, very special ! So when you come here, don't forget to purchase 3 things fruit,...

This roadside orchard...complex was recommended for its fruit ice cream - a must have for anyone driving past Cromwell on the way to Central Otago.

It does tend to be a bit of a tourist trap, unfortunately. Prices of fruit and some basic necessities were hiked up to eye-opening levels and there were more than a few tourist buses with tourists flush with cash so it was perhaps an easy sell for them. Not quite for a local thinking of getting some fruit.

Back to the ice cream though, it was 5 bucks for real fruit ice cream. A nice, creamy mix with real fruit which went down a treat. There are three different flavours - blueberry, mixed berries, and cherries. I recommend the cup with a spoon for easy consumption, especially in a car, rather than juggling a cone and your seat belt.

Toilet facilities were surprisingly clean especially considering the amount of foot traffic going through the place. It made a toilet break much more pleasant rather than thinking of going into dirty toilets to relieve yourself.

So yes to the ice cream and toilets, less so for other bits and bobs that you'd buy at the shop. You'll be better off at your local...