Adrian Barlow became the first-ever recipient of a peer-nominated lifetime achievement award, presented at last night’s dinner at The National Fruit Show.
The award, sponsored by Norman Collett, was presented by show chair Sarah Calcutt for Barlow’s long-standing dedication and service to the fruit industry, including his current role as chief executive for English Apples & Pears.
It has been introduced in memory of eponymous company founder Norman Collett, and will only be awarded when appropriate rather than every year.
The Worshipful Company of Fruiters’ Culture Award was given to Dr David Simpson for leading the strawberry breeding programme at East Malling Research. It was presented by the Master of the company, John Price.
Loddington Farm won the Bonanza prize out of a lucky dip draw of over 40 hopefuls.
Keynote speaker David Smith, of City of London and landlord for Spitalfields wholesale market, said wholesalers would welcome a better relationship with growers. “Do growers really understand the size of the market outside supermarkets? I suspect not,” he said.
He continued: “Wholesale markets have a lot to offer: a rapid turnover and predictable demand, they pay quickly and don’t request that you change IT systems to match theirs, and they won’t drop you from category lists on a whim.”
No comments yet