Organic conversion — top fruit

Where it applies

Horticultural, Permanent crops

Eligibility conditions

• Below the moorland line
• Registered 'in conversion' with a Defra-licensed organic control body
• Top fruit or bush fruit grown as a commercial crop, not used to produce alcoholic drinks
• Not eligible if previously registered with an organic control body or given organic conversion aid
• Maximum 3 consecutive years, covering the organic conversion period

What you'll do

Convert a top-fruit orchard to organic — protect the trees from grazing stock and pests and manage weeds around the bases — following your control body's approved conversion plan and organic standards, with the land registered as fully organic before the action ends.

Evidence to keep

• A conversion map showing tree spacing and species
• Photos of the entered trees
• Fruit sale receipts (commercial production)
• The organic conversion plan approved and signed by your control body
• A valid organic certificate and schedule covering the action

Combining with other actions

Actions that can be paid on the same area:

• SFI 2026: CAHL1, CAHL2, CAHL3, CAHL4, CIPM2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM3, PRF1, PRF2
• SFI 2024: AHW1, CAHL1, CAHL2, CAHL3, CAHL4, CIPM1, CIPM2, CIPM3, CIPM4, CNUM1, CNUM3, CSAM1, PRF1, PRF2, PRF3
• SFI 2023: AHL1, AHL2, AHL3, AHL4, IPM1, IPM2, IPM3, IPM4, NUM1, NUM3, SAM1
• CS Higher Tier: CAB16, CAB17, CAB18, CAB19, CBE4, CBE5, CPAC1, CSP13, CSP14, CSP15, CSP20, CSP21, CSP9, CWS1, CWS3
• Countryside Stewardship: AB16, AB8, BE4, BE5