Our Farms

Chambers is the largest independent cane fruit grower in the UK, supplying quality fruit directly from the farm to many of the country’s major multiples.

Chambers grows an extensive range of berries, currants and stone fruitand is especiallyrecognized as market leaders in the year-round supply of quality raspberries and blackberries. The company is also a leading player in the supply of blackcurrants, redcurrants, cherries, gooseberries, strawberries, blueberries and rhubarb.

As specialists in its field, the business has identified a broad selection of varieties which can be relied upon to deliver a consistent and high-quality crop that is synonymous with the Chambers brand. The ability to identify core varieties capable of delivering the maximum quality yield over the longest possible season plays a vital role in the business’ success, with Chambers investing in protected tunnel-based production techniques for all products.

Our Fruit and Varieties

Chambers grows an extensive range of soft fruits and cherries and is particularly recognized for its heritage as market leaders in the year-round supply of quality raspberries and blackberries. As specialists in their field, the business has identified a broad selection of varieties which can be relied upon to deliver a consistent and high-quality crop that is synonymous with the Chambers brand.

Raspberries

Strawberries

Blackberries

Cherries

Blueberries

Red Currants

Gooseberry

Blackcurrants

Rhubarb

Growing for the future

Chambers is at the cutting edge of research into experimental new varieties destined for commercial production. Managing Director Tim Chambers is Chairman of The Rubus Breeding Consortium based at East Malling Research in Kent, a grower led consortium which seeks to produce new varieties of raspberries and blackberries which are not restricted by marketing agreements. The Consortium focuses on evolving improved and brand-new varieties capable of delivering the desired quality / yield of crop balanced with commercial viability.

Membership and Accreditations

WB Chambers is one of the twelve members of the Asplins Producer Organisation (http://www.asplinspo.com), based in Faversham, Kent, a fruit producing, packing, and marketing co-operative which produces top fruit, stone fruit, and soft fruit across the UK. The farms enjoy accreditation with a number of prestigious growing / food assurance standards including Red TractorAssurance, LEAF, Tesco NURTURE and Marks & Spencer’s Field to Fork. Chambers is an Associate Member of the British Summer Fruits Association and a member of AHDB Horticulture, formerly Horticultural Development Company (HDC).

Why Chambers?

The scale of our operation and the volume of fruit grown will ensure that your order is safe with us. Our shortened supply chain ensures that we deliver the freshest fruit directly from the grower to the customer, reducing food miles, guaranteeing provenance and traceability and offering an extended shelf life. Whilst we enjoy an enviable heritage we have also invested heavily in our future to safeguard the sustainable development of our business. As growers, all income is reinvested to establish more efficient processes and to produce better tasting fruit.

Employment

As a business, Chambers Farms employs 250 permanent staff, of which 200 work year-round on the farms, with a further 1,200 seasonal workers joining the team during the summer. The majority of seasonal workers enjoy an established relationship with Chambers, choosing to return on an annual basis. Accommodation is provided for seasonal workers across five locations based on the largest farms with the group. Each accommodation centre provides transport for the workforce, both to and from the farms, as well as to essential shopping destinations. If you are interested in working with Chambers, please email hr@wbchambers.co.uk

I came to W.B.Chambers and Son in 2005 as a student with the seasonal agriculture workers scheme. My purpose was to raise enough money and experience to be able to successful compete my graduation and a career in Bulgaria, but the years that passed and the accumulated experiences contradicted my initials plans and I am here with my family from almost 12 years. When I first came to the farm total area was no more than 50 hectares. I have worked almost everything : picking, cutting, planting, building tunnels etc. From 2006 to 2008 I worked as an Irrigation assistant and from 2008 to 2015 as Irrigation manager. Years passed very quickly and during this years I had the opportunity to learn extremely many new things and I have accumulated knowledge and experience and I continue to learn every day. From 2015 until present I am part of production management.

Vasil Vasilev

I’m originally from a small town in southern Bulgaria. I studied at Plovdiv University Paisii Hilendarski in Bulgarian Philology, completing it in 2008. I enjoy studying and in 2017 I did a CIPD course at MidKent College in Human Resources. In the summer of 2003 I came to UK on a SAWS program and did practical work in picking strawberries and raspberries on Belks Farm. The same year I progressed to an assistant. I came back again the next summer and kept working hard. In 2006, I was promoted to Harvest Manager. I feel appreciated and supported by all my colleagues and the farm management. I love my work and I always strive to do my best. I feel happy walking in the fields, organising the picking, dealing with people and all the aspects of my job. I am currently the Harvest Manager at Oakdene Farm.

Sevda Cholakova

Overseas Farms

Chambers has production sites in Iberia, Poland, Peru and Bulgaria. These overseas farms provide an opportunity for Chambers to extend production outside of the domestic growing season. Chambers UK propagates 1.5 million plants per year, with 10% grown on its overseas farms. This venture enables Chambers to identify innovative species of plant that may be especially suited to the local growing conditions experienced in Europe and North / South America.