Vassout Apples and Pears

Established in 1926, the Vassout family is the oldest family of arborists in Île-de-France, about 50km from Paris. Their name is synonymous with fruit of the very highest quality.

What's truly remarkable is the sheer consistency: immaculate fruit with barely a mark or blemish. The family farm is 35 hectares and run today by Fabien Vassout under the watchful eye of his father Roger Vassout and great uncle Jean Vassout, who have spent a lifetime growing apples and pears.

Apple varieties include Reine de Reinette, Royal Gala, Canada, Fuji, Jubilé, Calville, Clochard, Pink Kiss and Granny Smith.

For pears, it's around 500 tons of Guyot, Williams Blanches, Williams rouge, Beurré Hardy, Comice, Conférence and Passe Crassane.

In the orchards, trees are carefully hand pruned and some leaves snipped away to maximise sunlight on the fruit. The smaller fruit are ruthlessly thinned - leaving fruit that are pretty much perfect.