The first sample of this season’s British apples was picked today at a secret Kent location.
The single case of fruit, supplied by top-fruit marketing desk Norman Collett, was picked by John Worth, Tesco technical manager for top fruit, and delivered straightaway to the Pembury superstore.
Worth said: “First to market is an important achievement to mark the start of the season and Tesco is delighted that Norman Collett has been able to assist us in achieving this goal for the third year in a row.”
The delivery marks the start of a wide-ranging campaign to raise public awareness of early varieties, Kent fruit and the need to support British farmers.
While the rest of the crop is still a few days away, one location enjoying the best of the Kent sunshine from a southerly facing steep bank has delivered apples early in the season.
Many growers have commented on the benefits of the first ‘proper’ winter in a decade, which has enabled trees to achieve full dormancy; essential for optimum cropping the following season. A cold winter coupled with good conditions during pollination and a hot start to the summer has meant that the fruit crop is in good shape and many varieties may well be early this year.
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