A FAMILY-run business is celebrating success after receiving two accolades.

The Yorkshire Wolds Apple Juice, based just outside Norton, was awarded second place for two homemade juices in the National Fruit Show, in Kent.

Winning silver in both the Single Variety Juice and Blended Juice categories, Jon and Jane Birch say they are overjoyed to win their first national awards, since taking over in 2018.

“We are chuffed to pieces, this is our first major accolade since we took over the business,” said Jane.

“We stumbled across the National Fruit Show by accident, so we didn’t know what to expect or how many entries into each category.

“Considering the categories were full of larger businesses, we are chuffed to pieces with the results.

“Not bad for a small Yorkshire business.”

A former primary school teacher, Jane became a full-time mum in 2012, while Jon works part-time at East Barnby Outdoor Education Centre near Whitby.

Jon had also helped out at pressing time over the past few years at Yorkshire Wolds Apple Juice and when the opportunity came to take over the business, the couple felt it would fit around their other commitments.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, Jon and Jane have adapted their business by offering a contactless delivery service around Ryedale.

“We spent weeks watching and waiting as everything started to escalate,” said Jane.

“Around 95 per cent of our business comes from the hospitality industry, which are all closed due to the coronavirus epidemic.

“Our normal timetable of food festivals and local markets have been suspended until further notice.

“We had to think on our feet and come up with an action plan, so we decided to start a contactless delivery service which people can buy either a full or half case of different juices.”

For more information, go to yorkshirewoldsapplejuice.co.uk or phone Jane on 07779 161780.