Family-run grower-packer Bardsley & Sons, which farms at Staplehurst, Kent, scooped Tesco's top English apple award at the retailer’s annual apple conference held two weeks ago, fending off stiff competition from Man of Ross and A Scripps Ltd.

Derek and Angela Macey at Painters Fostal, also in Kent, headed up the category for production under 14 hectares, winning over Andrew Nicholas, while Wisbech-based grower John Portass claimed the prize for production over 14ha, beating Ivan and Stuart Clark at Pump Farm, Ken Jenner and Paul Roberts to the top spot.

Bardsley, which markets its fruit through Norman Collett, is the largest grower of Cameo in the UK, with 12,500 trees planted over the last five years. It has reached Tesco Nature’s Choice gold standard, and this season achieved the lowest inconsistency and rejection rate by volume through Norman Collett packhouses.

Bardsley’s River Farm is a model of the motto ‘If you grow it...show it”, having claimed awards at the National Fruit Show. The firm is now exploring the potential for no-spray or low-input varieties.

Derek and Angela Macey, who were nominated by Worldwide Fruit, are second-generation farmers at Pawley Farm. Attention to detail, covering growing and packing of Bramley and Cox, with a young plantation of Conference pears now also reaching maturity, was what impressed the judges, as well as the farm’s commitment to the environment.

Pawley is a unique location for biodiversity, and Derek Macey is the main trustee for a nearby 50-acre natural habitat location where over 2,500 trees and plants have been established.

The farm has also diversified into reworking below-grade product, and last season sold 12,000 bottles of apple juice and 7,000 bottles of cider through local outlets and farmers' markets.

John Portass, who is poised to receive Tesco’s Gold Standard certification, impressed the judges with his high fruit quality, achieving around 90 per cent Class I for dessert fruit and 75 per cent Class I for culinary apples. The packhouse’s bin-numbering system also earned Portass judges’ points, along with his use of experienced supervisors to manage small groups of workers.

Portass is also the only grower of the Sonja variety in the UK, which this season has already been marketed in Tesco's Finest range.

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