THE FOX FAMILY: A GROWING LEGACY IN PEMBERTON
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
For three generations, the Fox family have been part of the rich orchard growing history that has helped shape Pemberton and the Southern Forests region.
Tucked amongst the rolling hills of Pemberton, the Fox family farm is more than an orchard, it is the continuation of a family legacy built through decades of hard work, seasonal knowledge and a deep connection to the land.
Owned and operated by Michael and Kaye Fox alongside their sons Mat and Trent, the family orchard reflects both the history and future of farming in the Southern Forests. The Fox family have been farming in the region since the 1920s, with Brookside orchard itself first planted by Michael’s father, Ron Fox, in 1964.
As you turn onto Fox Road and make your way towards the property, you are greeted by apples on one side, avocado trees on the other and cattle grazing in the distance. It is a quintessential Pemberton scene, framed by rolling hills and towering karri country.
The cool nights and mild days of the Southern Forests region help create the crisp texture, colour and flavour that Pemberton apples are known for.
While some of the original varieties remain, the orchard has continually evolved over the decades. Older plantings have gradually been replaced with newer varieties including Gala,Kanzi, Fuji and Pink Lady in response to changing consumer preferences and market demand. Granny Smith apples continue to remain an important part of the orchard.
The Fox family have also introduced higher density plantings across parts of the orchard, helping improve efficiency around pruning, harvesting and orchard management. Protective netting now also plays an important role in reducing sun and hail damage while protecting fruit from birds during the growing season.
These changes reflect the way the orchard has adapted over time, balancing generations of farming knowledge with modern growing practices while continuing to focus on premium fruit quality.
Autumn is one of the busiest times of year for the Fox family as apple harvest gets fully underway across the orchard.
The family have built a strong reputation for producing premium fruit, but for them quality is about more than appearance. It is about creating fruit that people genuinely enjoy eating, crisp apples with flavour, freshness and provenance connected directly back to the Southern Forests.
Over the years, the Fox family have adopted practices and technology that help improve harvest timing, fruit quality and storage performance. Careful maturity testing has become an important part of their operation, with the family regularly checking apples for factors such as sweetness, firmness and ripeness to help determine the ideal picking time for each variety and ensure fruit reaches consumers at its best.
The orchard has also expanded beyond apples over the years, with the family establishing Hass avocados as part of the farm’s next chapter. The decision to diversify reflects both opportunity and long-term thinking as consumer tastes evolve and farming conditions continue to change.
Beyond the orchard rows, the Fox family are deeply connected to the local community and broader Southern Forests agricultural industry. They are passionate supporters of the Genuinely Southern Forests brand and the importance of building stronger connections between growers and consumers. Through the brand, local farming families are able to share the stories behind the produce, the people and the region itself.
The Fox family also represent something increasingly valuable within Australian agriculture, multi-generational farming knowledge. Skills, seasonal understanding and practical experience have been handed down across generations, creating a strong foundation for the future.
With four generations woven into the Fox family’s farming story, their orchard continues to reflect the character of the Southern Forests itself, resilient, community-minded and deeply connected to the land.
Today, three generations work the orchard, with the next generation already growing up amongst the rows.
As Mat and Trent help carry the farm into its next chapter, the legacy built by earlier generations continues to grow.
Photography by Craig Kinder Photography for Genuinely Southern Forests.
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