Jucker Farm

Jucker Farm is a Swiss agrotourism company and agriculture producer and distributor, that operates three farm estates including restaurants and three farm shops. Based in Seegräben in the canton of Zürich, Jucker Farm is known for the agricultural events, among them the biggest pumpkin festival in Switzerland, and Jucker Farm is also the most important pumpkin producer respectively distributor in Switzerland.

Juckerhof farm in Seegräben
Juckerhof farm and restaurant in Seegräben
pumpkin 'jumbo' of 2011
2014 pumpkin festival
farm shop in Seegräben

History

Basing on the Jucker family's tradition to operate their farm in Seegräben on Pfäffikersee shore and their mother's small estate in Rafz, the brothers Beat Jucker and Martin Jucker established in 2000 the Farmart AG (Aktiengesellschaft), which was renamed in 2013 as Jucker Farm AG. As of November 2014, the company owns three farms, including affiliated companies and Jucker Farmart Expo GmbH (Germany) that organizes, among others in the Europapark Rust,[1] pumpkin events in southern Germany. Jucker Farm employs around 150 employees in its operations, i.e. in the three farms and associated farm shops, and two restaurants, that have, depending on weather, between 100 and 8,000 visitors daily.[2]

Agriculture

Among the common agricultural products and the apple orchards, the pumpkin farming is remarkable. The former Jucker Farmart marketed already in 2000 the pumpkin products of about a hundred Swiss farmers: "We are not the only farm selling such products, but probably we are of the size and nature to but unique in Switzerland," said Beat Jucker in an interview, and estimated that their products have between 30 and 50 percent of the total domestic volume account in Switzerland. Around 300 different varieties of pumpkin, of which about 20 main sorts, are distributed; in 2000 about 5,000 tonnes (11,000,000 pounds) pumpkin have been sold. The farms sell in the farm shops also books about this plant, Halloween pumpkin cut sets and offer the organization of pumpkin markets, festivals and exhibitions.[3] Jucker Farm therefore claims to be most important producer of pumpkins from organic farming in Switzerland.

Locations and offers

Agrotourism

The so-called experience farmyards (in German: Erlebnishöfe) provided by the Jucker family in Seegräben (Juckerhof) on Pfäffikersee and in Jona (Bächlihof) on Obersee lakeshore are also nationally known day-trip destinations.[4] In addition to the farm shops and catering, there are for children a nature playground, a goat enclosure, seasonal self picking of fruits and an apple orchard with labyrinth and mazes. Nationally known are the family annual major events, including Switzerland's most important pumpkin festival from September to November: On 5 October 2014, a new international record was established by a pumpkin weighing 953.5 kilograms (2,102 pounds),[5][6] at least for some days, but being still the biggest pumpkin in Switzerland.

Farm restaurants

The "HofChuchi" restaurant in Seegräben is opened 365 days a year. The menu features a wide choice of seasonal and regional products cultivated by their own and also includes agricultural procuts of other local providers, as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner, the latter in winter only during limited opening times. The two restaurants in Seegräben and Jona offer a catering company for corporate events, seminars and private events.

Farm shops

The three farm shops are operated by the farms: Juckerhof in Seegräben, Bächlihof in Jona and Spargelhof in Rafz. The shops are open 365 days a year and offer the agricultural products grown in the region and specialities produced by other local agricultural producers.[7] An adjoint farm's bakery at Seegräben was established in May 2015.[8]

Webshop

Jucker Farm is partner of the webshop farmy.ch that was awarded by the Swiss E-Commerce Award in June 2015.[9]

Transport

In order to force the public transportation and to avoid massive individual traffic, a shuttle-bus operates during peak season between the railway station Aathal, provided by the S-Bahn Zürich S14 (ZVV) line and the Juckerhof farm in Seegräben. Bächlihof in Jona is connected by the local bus 991 heading to Rapperswil railway station.[10]

Awards (excerpts)
  • 2012: Best of Swiss Gastro Awards - Activity
  • 2013: Tourismuspreis Schweiz 2013 - Herausragendes Projekt, 1. Preis
  • 2014: Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year - «Family Business»
  • 2015: Swiss E-Commerce Award for the webstore farmy.ch.[9]

Jucker Farm was nominated by Ernst & Young for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year «Services/Trade» awards,[11] and awarded on 24 October 2014 as Entrepreneur of the Year.[12] Started in 1998, the EY award nomination is distinguished for the personality of the entrepreneur, their creative power and entrepreneurial success. The Jucker brothers were are also convincing of highly innovative and socially engagement.[13]

References
  1. "Die Kürbisse sind los bei Jucker Farmart" (in German). Zürcher Oberländer. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  2. Matthias Scharrer (17 October 2013). "Erlebnisbauer im Zürcher Oberland bekommt Staatsbesuch aus Finnland" (in German). Limmattaler Zeitung. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  3. "Kürbisanbau in der Schweiz: Interessant sind vor allem Kerne und Öl (Mediendienst Nr. 2482)" (in German). Landwirtschaftlicher Informationsdienst (LID). 5 November 2000. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  4. "Ausflugstipps" (in German). Zürcher Verkehrsverbund. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  5. "Im Video: Weltrekord im Kürbiswiegen" (in German). Zürcher Oberländer. 5 October 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  6. "Der Mann mit dem Kürbisblick" (in German). Tages-Anzeiger. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
  7. "Kürbisse und Selberpflücken, Seegräben" (in German). bauernferien.ch. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  8. David Kilchör (23 June 2015). "Mit Holzofen und Mühle zum Gourmetbrot" (in German). Zürcher Oberländer. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
  9. "Gewinner 2015: E-Commerce Champion, Spezialpreise und Kategoriensieger" (in German). ecommerce-award.ch. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  10. "Neues Verkehrskonzept für Jucker Farm" (in German). Schweiz aktuell. 4 September 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  11. "EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2014: Die Finalisten stehen fest" (in German). Ernst & Young. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  12. "Besuch auf der Jucker Farm" (in German). 10vor10. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  13. "Nächste Nomination für Jucker Farm" (in German). Zürcher Oberländer. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.

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