How to Start a Bell Apple Business in the UK
Selling locally produced bell apple is a very lucrative niche market. Growing them in the UK is even rarer because not many people are aware that they grow easily in certain geographical locations.
A single tree can produce a huge number of fruits and, once established, requires low maintenance. The fruit attracts a good price in the market because it is a rare delicacy.
Interestingly, we had a bell apple tree at the back of our family house, which we named monkey apple. We did not plant it and suspect that the seeds were dropped by birds. After years of enjoying the fruits, we cut the tree, and today a guava tree stands in its place.
Starting a Bell Apple Business
Challenges
The business comes with its own set of challenges. Birds and bats love the fruit, so they can consume an entire tree. Other difficulties include low rainfall, scarcity of seedlings. Once the fruit is harvested, it should be sold or eaten in a few days, or it spoils.
Challenges
- Birds and bats eat the fruits
- Need adequate rainfall
- sacristy of the seedlings
- high mortality of fruits after harvest
Business Opportunity
There are some opportunities in bell apple production. They can be processed into products such as wines, jams, juices, and marmalades. You could organize seminars and earn huge money teaching others the business. There is also a good market for bell apple concentrates.
Products and Opportunities
- Production of wines
- Jam
- Juice
- Marmalade
- You could organize seminars
- Good market for bell apple concentrates
- Sell seedlings
Purchase/lease Farm Land
To start a business, you need farm land. You can either buy or lease the land. It is better to purchase the land so you own the trees. Agricultural land is cheap, and you can purchase acres.
Bell Apple Seedlings
You need to purchase the seedlings from a farmer. You need 160 seedlings per acre at the cost of N100 per seedling. Therefore production of 100 seedlings for three months comes to N20, 000 naira. The cost of 160 seedlings for a plantation can be estimated at N160,000 – N200, 000 naira.
The Market
The fruit’s native origin is Malaysia, so there are only a handful of farmers in the United Kingdom. There is a market for the fruits, pre-germinated seeds, see,d s, and seedlings.
The farmer tends to make 100% of the investment every season once the tree matures. It takes about three years for the plant to grow into full maturity. Seedling producers earn much quicker within six months.