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Our Farms

We work closely with our sister businesses Gilpin Farms (Armagh) and Gilfresh Farms (Dundalk) to grow over 1000 acres of fresh vegetables and salads annually to supply our valued customers. Our farms are independently audited to the highest standards including Red Tractor, Leaf, Global Gap and supermarket standards. As well as growing our own crops, we also coordinate annual growing programmes with a trusted network of trusted and experienced local growers.

Learn More About Our Farms

  • Gilpin Farms

    Gilpin Farms

    Gilpin Farms was established in 1965 when Thomas Gilpin left school and started growing a small amount of vegetables for the Belfast Markets. The farm has grown and expanded since then and now grows hundreds of acres of veg annually.

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  • Gilfresh Farms

    Gilfresh Farms

    Gilfresh Farms in 2023 in Dundalk. This farm has allowed us to expand our growing operations into a greater area to meet with customer demand for locally grown produce.

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Gilpin Farms and Gilfresh Farms

Our Growing Season

Our growing season is closely tied to the weather, requiring our farm team to continually adapt and adjust their plans to changing conditions. In an ideal year, their schedule would follow the outline presented below.

We are also committed to innovation, regularly trialling new growing methods aimed at extending the local season and improving the quality and sustainability of our produce.

January – February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

January – February

Winter Harvesting and Spring Preparations

Winter harvesting is ongoing on the farm during January and February, with preparations for the season ahead also in full swing. Carrots, swedes, and leeks continue to be harvested. The carrots which are harvested in January and February were covered with straw in November in order to protect them from the frost. In January we also sow the first of our carrots for the new season. These carrots are covered to help raise the soil temperature. It is hoped these carrots will be ready to harvest in early July. Alongside fieldwork, we take time in the early part of the year to maintain and make repairs to essential field equipment – wooden bins that are used to bring the crops back from the field are all inspected and fixed if necessary. This will mean that we have a good supply of bins for when we start to harvest swede to be stored in the coming weeks. Planning for the season ahead continues, with final orders placed for seeds and plants in January. We also begin calculating the fertiliser blends required to support healthy crop development in the coming months.
March

Winter Roots and Summer Shoots

During March we continue to harvest carrots, swedes and leeks. Depending on the weather, ground conditions can be challenging at this time of year. In March we begin to hand pull swede for long term storage. This allows us to extend the local season. Harvesting it manually helps to prevent any damage that might be caused by the mechanical harvester, this damage would mean the swede would not keep well in the store. We continue to sow carrots in March and also start sowing our summer scallion crop. Both of these crops are covered to help increase soil temperature and promote growth. We keep a regular check on our overwintered scallions which were sowed in September and should be ready to harvest in May.
April

April on the Farm

The local carrot season has now come to an end. In April we continue to harvest swedes for long term storage and also harvest leeks for storage as well. Leeks are placed upright in wooden boxes. This “standing” method tricks the leeks into thinking they’re still in the ground, helping to prevent them from bending during storage. We also continue with planting. By the end of the April in a good year weather wise, we would expect to have nearly half of our carrot and scallion crops sown. We will also have made a start on planting leeks and swedes, and started our weekly broccoli planting schedule, which will provide a steady harvest throughout the season.
May

New Season Harvesting Begins and Planting Is In Full Swing

May is a busy month on the farm and usually marks the start of our new season harvests (weather depending of course). We begin harvesting our over-wintered Scallions, which were sown back in September and have grown steadily throughout the colder months. Planting is still in full swing. This month we plant a wide variety of crops, including: Carrots, Swedes, Leeks, Scallions, Pumpkins, Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli, Cabbage. We also begin sowing maize for our on-site anaerobic digester. Grown specifically as an energy crop, the maize will be harvested and used to generate electricity for the entire Gilfresh site—an important step in our sustainability efforts.
June

Buzzing Into Summer: Pollination, Planting & Produce

In June we finish sowing swede. All the swede is covered with mesh netting to help protect it from root fly. This is part of our farm’s integrated pest management plan. We keep a close eye on our pumpkin crop during June – it is weeded to ensure they have the best chance of growing and at the end of the month we release bees into the pumpkin fields to help with pollination. We are still planting leeks, scallions and broccoli every week to ensure we have produce ready to harvest throughout the season. By the end of June we are usually harvesting new season scallions, cabbage and kale.
July

Summer on the Farm

In July we harvest grass and rye as feed for our Anaerobic Digester. We also move into the new season local carrots, harvesting our January sown carrots. We also begin to harvest broccoli and cabbage which was planted in April. Planting continues with the last of the scallion, leek and broccoli plants going into the ground. Green pumpkins are now starting to form in the pumpkin fields with the hopes for some sunshine in the coming weeks and months to help them grow and turn orange. Planning for the following year also starts in July with seed for our over winter scallions being ordered and the hunt for new fields commencing.
August

Harvesting Continues

This month we continue to harvest carrots, scallions, broccoli, leeks, cabbages and kale. We also start to harvest swede. Our spring barley harvest also starts with the straw from this being baled so that we can use it to cover the carrots later on in the winter. At this time of year we also have several farm audits to prepare for. Our farms are accredited to many different standards.
September

The Great Pumpkin Harvest Begins

This month we continue to harvest carrots, cabbage, scallions, broccoli, leeks, kale & swede. We also start to harvest pumpkins. The pumpkins all need to be harvested in September and October and they are all harvested by hand so it is a busy time on the farm. September also sees the growing cycle starting for next season. We sow our overwinter scallions; these will grow slowly through the winter and hopefully be ready for harvest in May the following year. We also sow our rye, this is another crop that grows over the winter and is used to feed the anaerobic digester.
October

Powering On During October on the Farm

During October we finish harvesting kale, broccoli, scallions and pumpkins and we start our maize harvest. The maize is used to help feed the anaerobic digester which provides the electricity for the whole site. Carrots, swede and leeks continue to be harvested throughout this month.
November

Frost Protection and Forward Planning

During November we harvest carrots, swede, leeks and brussels sprouts. This month we also start to cover our carrots with straw. A layer of straw is placed on top of the carrots and this acts as insulation to protect the carrots from the frost that usually comes during the winter. Without doing this our carrots would freeze and we would be unable to sell them. Planning for next year is also well underway with the first seed and plant orders being placed for next season’s crops.
December

Festive Rush

During December we harvest carrots, swede, leeks and Brussels sprouts. The build up to Christmas is always very busy and all members of the farm team put in extra effort to ensure that we are able to meet customer demand for increased volumes for the seasonal rush. Planning for next year continues with field allocation and weekly planting programmes being developed this month.

Nature-Friendly Farming

Biodiversity on Our Farms

Our Farms are members of LEAF -(Linking Environment and Farming).  As part of our LEAF commitments we are developing areas to increase biodiversity for 4 key species on our farm.

Barn Owl

The barn owl population is declining due to reduced food supply and loss of rough grassland hunting areas. To support them, we have installed nesting boxes across our fields, providing safe places to nest and hunt.

Yellow Hammer

The yellow hammer is another species at risk. To help, we grow seed crops on the farm that provide vital food for these birds.

Irish Hare

For the Irish hare, we maintain rich pastures for light grazing and continue to plant wild bird cover crops. We also leave corridors in our fields to allow birds of prey to hunt safely.

Bees

Bees face many threats, but our pumpkin crops offer a rich source of pollen. Additionally, we bring in over 100 bumblebee and honeybee hives to support pollination and help maintain healthy local bee populations.

Learn more about Sustainability

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Please see below the answers to some questions we are frequently asked about our farm. If you query isn’t covered below don’t hesitate to get in touch.

What crops do you grow on your farrms?

We grow a wide variety of seasonal vegetables, including carrots, swede, leeks, cabbages, Brussels sprouts, spring onions, kale, broccoli, and pumpkins

Where are your farms located?

Gilpin Farms is based in Armagh, Northern Ireland, and Gilfresh Farms is located in Dundalk.

Are your vegetables locally grown?

Yes. We grow and source as much as possible locally across the island of Ireland, helping to reduce food miles and support local agriculture.

Are your farms certified?

Yes. Our farms are independently audited and certified to the highest standards including Red Tractor, LEAF, Global GAP, and leading supermarket standards.

How sustainable are your farming practices?

Sustainability is central to our values. We use wind energy, produce biogas from food waste, recycle water, and minimise packaging to reduce our environmental impact.

Do you use pesticides or chemicals?

We follow integrated pest management (IPM) practices and use crop protection products responsibly, only when necessary and within strict safety guidelines.

Do you offer organic produce?

Currently, our focus is on conventional farming with sustainable methods. However, we are always exploring ways to expand into organic production where possible.

How do you ensure product quality?

Quality control starts from seed selection and continues through harvest, handling, and distribution. Our team works hard to ensure every product meets high quality standards.

Can I visit Gilpin Farms?

While we don’t offer public tours, we occasionally host visits for educational or industry purposes. Please contact us for more details.

How do you work with other growers?

We coordinate with a network of trusted growers who supply additional crops like parsnips, lettuce, mushrooms, strawberries, and cauliflower. These partnerships are built on shared values, trust, and commitment to quality.

Supply Management

  • Our Trusted Local Growers

    Our Trusted Local Growers

    Beyond our own fields, we also coordinate annual growing programmes with a trusted network of local growers who supply additional crops like parsnips, cabbage, lettuce, mushrooms, strawberries, and cauliflower. These long-standing partnerships are built on mutual trust and a shared commitment to delivering high-quality, locally grown produce to our customers.

  • Import Season Supply Management

    Import Season Supply Management

    Due to our climate, certain crops cannot be grown locally year-round. To ensure consistent supply and meet customer demand throughout all seasons, we supplement our offerings with carefully managed import programmes during off-peak growing periods for products such as broccoli, cabbage, leeks, scallions, and parsnips.

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