About Us
Our Founders
Andrew Howard
Founder, Horticulturist, Orchard Architect
Andy Howard, founder and managing partner of The Heritage Fruit Tree Company, is often referred to as our Orchard Architect. Having launched The Heritage Fruit Tree Company nearly two decades ago, Andy is passionate about bringing back traditional fruit varieties, encouraging species diversity and ‘fruit with flavour’. His work includes planning and designing (and planting) orchards from small community and home orchards comprising just five tree up to 500 tree commercial orchards.
Andy is a co-founding member of The Midshires Orchard Group (MSOG, encompassing Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire). He is also a member of the RHS Fruit Group and The National Orchard Network.
With a career history that includes organic horticulture and teaching, Andy has a PGCE in Further Education and boundless enthusiasm for sharing knowledge on all things fruit-related.
Andy put a local North Oxfordshire apple, The Deddington Pippin, in the spotlight in the BBC Four documentary Apples: British to the Core (2011) and has provided expert advice on Radio 4's Farming Today and BBC local radio.
Jo Howard
Joint Partner, Fruit Connoisseur
After over two decades in food related trade publishing, Jo Howard joined The Heritage Fruit Tree Company full-time in 2022. Having helped at events, fares and apple days over many years, Jo has built up an expansive knowledge of the properties of hundreds of heritage fruit trees and is now an integral partner for The Heritage Fruit Tree Company. Jo is keen to celebrate the superb myriad of fruit flavours and the fascinating history and stories behind our fruit heritage. ​Jo also has a long-held passion for promoting biodiversity as well as flavoursome, home grown produce that maximises the growing season and reduces food miles.