The National Fruit Show, organised by the Marden Fruit Show Society, will be held on October 22-23 at the Kent Country Showground, Detling, near Maidstone.

“The heatwave across Europe has ensured that the crop is not over-supplied, so this is a great opportunity for our top fruit growers. The hot summer has resulted in very high sugar levels in dessert apples and pears, making them the tastiest fruit we have had for years,” says Robert Mitchell, chairman, National Fruit Show.

One highlight to celebrate the 70th anniversary will be a reception on the second day from 12.30-2.00pm in the John Hendry Pavilion. Members, fruit exhibitors past and present, trade exhibitors and judges are all welcome, say the organisers.

Grower entries for the centre stage apple and pear competitions along with soft fruit and cobnuts, have still to be finalised.

But strong entries for the Long-Term Storage Classes, which have already passed last year's total, gives some indication of the likely strength of support this year.

“We have been delighted with the positive response and with some weeks to go, we have well over 90 per cent of stand space booked from 75 companies and organisations,” says Carole Quinlan, National Fruit Show secretary.

A catchy slogan ëIf You Grow It ñ Show It' has come from a well-known grower and exhibitor at the show ñ Alan Smith from Yalding, near Maidstone. He maintains that selecting show fruit is an integral part of the marketing process.

“Walking the orchards prior to harvest, not only enables me to access crop potential, but gives me the opportunity to begin my selection process for the show,” he says.

This year sees the introduction of the increasingly grown dessert variety Braeburn. It replaces the variety Idared, which can still be entered into ñ Any Other Variety Dessert Apple class.

Last year's new introduction Cameo went on to win the Tastiest Apple Class. The anniversary Show Dinner is again being held at Leeds Castle on Wednesday October 22 ñ the first night of the show.

During the dinner the ëBonanza' prize will be drawn which is a holiday for two in the South Tyrol, Austria, sponsored by Phosyn, Pocklington, York. The trip will include a visit to the world renowned Laimbury Research Centre and a leading packhouse.

A seminar programme has been arranged for the second day of the show (Thursday October 23).

11.00am ñ Organic Production Research, chaired by Adrian Barlow chief executive, English Apples & Pears.

Main speaker ñ Jerry Cross, HRI East Malling, will report on a Hortlink project aimed at finding solutions to the major problems which limit organic apple production.

2.00pm ñ The Bramley Apple Campaign. The campaign has been successfully in operation since the early 1990s

The seminar will outline new initiatives to encourage the use of the Bramleys by tomorrow's chefs as well as targeting school pupils ñ the consumers of tomorrow.

All three of the Show's main sponsors ñ Sainsbury's, Bayer CropScience and Worldwide Fruit will be alongside the main top fruit display. The entire competition fruit will be taken to Ampleforth College near York, following the show for a ëCelebration of English Apples and Pears'.

This famous school regularly has open days for the public. The display has been arranged by the Bonanza sponsor Phosyn and will be open for the public on October 26.

The show opens from 10.00am to 6.00pm onOctober 22 and from 10.00am to 5.00pm on October 23.

Further details can be obtained from the National Fruit Show secretary, Marden Fruit Show Society, Bradbourne House, East Malling Kent ME19 6DZ Tel: 01732 874564.