Has Anna Gelderd Found the Secret Ingredient to Boost Cornwall’s Year-Round Economy?

South East Cornwall MP visits Cornish Orchards to champion local business and cider craftsmanship

Anna Gelderd, Member of Parliament for South East Cornwall, met with Cornish Orchards on Friday 24th October 2025 to continue her work on building a strong, year-round economy that benefits local people.

During the visit, Anna spoke with the team about key issues affecting food and drink production and sustainable tourism in the region.

Building a Year-Round Economy

Anna last visited Cornish Orchards during the summer, when she accompanied the Chancellor to showcase some of the best of Cornish hospitality. She continues to call for an economy that is “as strong in January as it is in July,” reflecting her focus on long-term growth and stability for local businesses.

Fighting for Fair Investment

Anna is also pushing for South East Cornwall’s fair share of infrastructure funding from the billions of pounds being invested into Devonport Dockyard. With 23% of Babcock workers living in South East Cornwall, many rely on infrastructure in the Duchy to reach work each day.

She recently raised the issue in Parliament with Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard, urging that South East Cornwall benefits from new investment in the South West.

Local businesses have long faced challenges transporting goods across the Tamar due to poor road conditions, and Anna continues to campaign for improvements.

From Parliament to Pressing Apples

After discussing these key issues, Anna got hands-on with the cider-making process, learning more about apple pressing at Cornish Orchards. She praised the dedication involved and highlighted the importance of supporting local producers.

Anna said:

“I’m looking at ways we can further support small and medium-sized businesses in South East Cornwall, so that our economy works year-round. Cornish Orchards does a great job of combining food and drink production with a hospitality experience, which I am looking further into to see how we can transfer this success to other areas of our economy.

I know the difficulties that food and drink producers face, and this experience made it clearer than ever how much work goes into this craftsmanship.”

Cornish Orchards, based in South East Cornwall, continues to be recognised as a strong example of how local production and tourism can work hand in hand to strengthen the Cornish economy.