Generally speaking, says Johnson, the UK top fruit sector is more upbeat than it has been. “Slightly higher returns and better shelf-space have heightened confidence, which is exactly what we need. If we don't achieve consistently better returns for the product then we can't invest or improve.

“One significant output of recent times has been the production of the Best Practice Guide for Apples,” Johnson continues. “It's divided into three areas to include crop protection, agronomy systems and was introduced because it was felt that the fruit industry has been dogged by unhelpful, conflicting advice in recent years. The guide provided the opportunity to portray basic information. Primarily we were concerned that the guides would not be used, but so far this hasn't been the case ñ in fact the response has been very good.”

It was in discussions with Defra, who funded the project that the idea for the guides first blossomed. “Defra has been involved in improving technology transfer and that's vital because if initial research is not used in the industry then it is a bit of a waste of time. The creation of the guide was a real opportunity to pass on comprehensive research for UK conditions and varieties and we hope also to be able to update them. Information can become out of date very quickly and when we feel we have a substantial amount to change then we will,” says Johnson.

Following the success of the Best Practice Guide for UK apple production, a new guide for the UK pear industry was distributed to UK growers and advisors earlier in the year.

While guiding producers through the techniques of best practice, in terms of storage, there are a number of innovations on the horizon. “Smartfresh, in particular is threatening to revolutionise the industry,” says Johnson. “It works by blocking the effect of ethylene on the fruit and now we're waiting to see if it is approved this year ñ although we're getting close to harvest time and as yet there is no sign of approval,” he concedes.

Not only will Smartfresh store product effectively, it will also serve to cheapen storage. “The economies of fruit growing are to very tight margins, so savings will, of course, be welcome.” Johnson continues: “We have to find our way in with this product and make sure that it fits in. But from a worldwide point of view, Smartfresh is the biggest thing in postharvest for years.”

The research centre also provides storage recommendations to the industry for UK varieties and has been collaborating with the Horticultural Development Council to produce a laminated wall chart to provide quick reference to storage guides that has recently been released and among other things provides the latest recommendations for Gala and Meridian.

“We are continuing to work, as we have for the past four to five years on a product called Retain,” Johnson continues. “This is a spray which delays the harvesting of fruit. It has the ability to make harvest management much more effective and will take some of the pressure on growers, so I hope that this comes to fruition. Retain has been approved in other countries for years but we are still waiting for its approval in the UK.”

There are other discrepancies in legislation that limit the scope of UK producers. Smartfresh, for instance has already been approved in the US and South America. “It's vital that we keep up with the r&d side of things,” says Johnson, “but Retain, for example is going to be a very useful product for us.”

Researchers are also working a lot with the HDC to tackle problems with Cox. “One element that we are looking into is a browning disorder that has really shaken the confidence in storage. It is a storage problem but the cause is unknown and it has made growers very nervous. HDC is now providing the funding for us to find out if shade might be a contributory factor. It's hard to believe that we're still getting new disorders ñ it makes you think that something has changed in the way we're producing fruit.

“In the past year there has been a lot going on here,” Johnson concludes. “We're a small group but we're the ones who were responsible for pioneering CA storage and taking it to the world ñ as we did with rootstocks. This year its all about climatic conditions creating problems and it won't be an easy year this time for keeping the quality.

“With climate change we're likely to see more incidences of water core ñ a typical condition found in arid conditions which results in the fruit looking water-soaked and glassy. Bramley in particular are affected and can gradually dry out in storage but if the situation is very severe then the fruit just won't recover and can end up fermenting when in storage. We can generally forsee problems but it's an unusual one for us ñ it's never been a national problem in all the years I've been here ñ but it is now.