Hundreds of British apples and pears were lined up alongside UK tomatoes, soft fruit, cobnuts and pumpkins at The National Fruit Show in Kent for the Marden Fruit Show Society annual event.

The two-day show, which has been held almost every year since 1933, opened its doors at the Kent County Showground on Oct 18.

Jeremy Scott, National Fruit Show chairman, said: “I am delighted with the number of entrants that we have had to the show this year, and that we have managed to add other products.

“We are determined to use the word ‘fruit’ in its fullest context.”

The 2006 competition saw 145 entries for the apples and pears category and 48 entrants vied for the first title of Tastiest Tomato.

Gerry Hayman, of the Tomato Growers Association, said: “As every good school boy will tell you, tomatoes are a fruit - and we deserve to be at the National Fruit Show.

“This gives us the opportunity to end the season on a high, and the message that we want to get across is that Britain is producing the best tomatoes.”

“The old question does come up: ‘Why don’t tomatoes taste like they used to?’ Our response is that they taste better.”

The list of winners was topped by Steven Farms (Hawkhurst) Ltd, which scooped both the Covent Garden Prize for the Best Exhibit of Apples or Pears in the Show and the Roderick Sarson Memorial Trophy for the Best All Round Exhibit of Apples, and Paramour Farm, which won the Bayer Rose Bowl for the Best Exhibit of Pears.

Other popular contests included the long-term storage award, which had 45 entrants, and the 30-strong soft-fruit contest. The debut walnut competition had 19 entries, 12 candidates entered the cobnut category, and three entrants battled to win the pumpkin contest.

The display of entries was the centrepiece in the hubbub of 86 stand-holders - and special appearances by men dressed as apples and pears were all part of the show.

The arrangement was then moved to Borough Market on October 21 where it was seen by around 10,000 members of the public as part of the market’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

Speaking at the Show, Scott said: “This will give us the opportunity to allow the general public to see and taste the winning fruit.”

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