Sales of UK-grown topfruit have risen by 3.6 per cent during the 2009/10 season to date compared with the previous campaign, following a two-stage promotional drive that featured coverage in national and regional media outlets.
According to promotional body English Apples and Pears (EAP), the total volume of topfruit sold, between the October start of the season to early 2010, has totalled 58,188 tonnes compared with 56,165 tonnes during the 2008/09 campaign.
Following the organisation’s secondary launch of the current season on 15 January, after the initial launch on 29 September 2009, EAP said that the English topfruit crop received coverage in national and regional BBC television and radio outlets.
As a result of the media coverage, EAP chief executive Adrian Barlow said that the UK’s leading retailer of English apples and pears had reported an increase in stores stocking the fruit due to greater consumer demand.
However, Mr Barlow said that overall prices received for the crop had been “below the level to justify new investment in orchard or facilities”.
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