Duffell family has plenty to pick from at highly diverse orchard

But whether it be the quiet peace of winter, the autumn colours or the frenzy and sweetness of spring flowers, one thing is for sure: the sugar plum and jujube grower simply loves what he does every day.

Roy and his wife Judy own Prickle Hill Produce on the sandhills near Coleambally in NSW, and it turns out growing is in Roy's blood.

His grandfather William, a World War I veteran, was known as the 'fruit salad king' for his beautiful nectarines, and Roy's father John carried on the tradition, growing peaches, apricots, oranges, grapes and sugar plums.

Roy's first memories were with his father, growing apricots and grapes, which supplied McWilliams Wines.

"I remember picking nectarines with draught horses," he said.

"The men would be picking, loading and unloading, and the ladies would be sorting. Then the fruit would be sent on the train to market. I always tried to help but I think I just got in the way as a child."

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Roy has been farming since leaving school, taking on his father's farm at Yenda in 1968.

But a new dream began in 1993, when he and Judy bought the sugar plum orchard at Coleambally, and began growing, grafting and planting his own trees.

Growing for Roy is a passion, and he has been involved in the research and development of growing different varieties of prune clones for the advancement of the Australian Prune Industry (IPA).

It was in 2012 when Chinese red dates, or jujubes, were added to the mix, thanks to the urging of Roy's daughter Joanne Stratford.

Today their property on the rolling sandhills is planted to 5000 sugar plum trees for the fresh and dried (prune) markets, as well as 4000 jujube trees.

But the Duffell family hasn't stopped there, also growing oranges, quinces, figs, plums, peaches, lemons, loquats, olives and apricots.

Some of the Duffells' jujube crop is exported, while the rest is sold to Asian customers and greengrocers.

Their fruit is not only sold whole, but is also made into delicious, award-winning Royboy's Worcestershire Sauce, and plums in port, all made on property.

And soon indigenous crops may be growing on the sandhills amongst the fruit.

"We have an idea of planting wattleseed, lemon myrtle and pine nuts," he said. "Growing really is a family business."

But growing is not Roy's only love. It is quite normal to hear the glorious sounds of a fiddle amongst the sandhills.

Roy is also a talented fiddle player, playing in the Swag and Billy Bush Band.

FOR the Duffell family at Prickle Hill Produce, tradition is a very special thing.

And it is what keeps the Coleambally growers hard at work and ever evolving their sugar plum and jujube orchard.

Roy Duffell is very passionate about using organic practices in his orchard, and he takes great pride in growing trees. He has propagated every one of the 5000 sugar plum trees himself.

"I really enjoy doing all of the nursery work," he said.

After the seasonal work of watering and pruning, the sugar plums are harvested mechanically from the middle of February, which takes a couple of weeks.

The jujubes are handpicked from late February until the end of March.

And it can be a bit of a tricky business, where the local pickers have to choose the fruit that's the perfect colour, while avoiding large thorns and new flowers.

And the work never stops for the Duffell family. Roy's son James Duffell, a former chef, sells the beautiful Prickle Hill Produce weekly at markets across Sydney, including Moore Park and Carriageworks markets.

Their produce is also sold in numerous shops and visitor information centres, such as the Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory. It is also for sale through Prickle Hill Produce's online store.

This story was originally published in The Land's Smart Farmer magazine.

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