The Marden Fruit Show Society, which organises the show, reports that entries are up to 118 compared to 108 last year and just 86 in 2001 in all apple and pear classes.

Home-grown cobnut entries are also up this year, but there is a downturn in soft-fruit entries.

Trade stand space is full with 72 exhibitors up from 65 in 2002. Numbers are boosted by new exhibitors as well as "an encouraging number of returning exhibitors," said the society.

The Royal Horticultural Society will also be taking a stand to display a range of traditional top-fruit varieties.

Guests at the show include Baroness Strange and Hugh Robertson MP of the Parliamentary British Fruit Industry Group and Brendan Nevin, agricultural counsellor for the Irish Embassy.

For further information on the show, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, see the apple supplement included with this week's issue of the Fresh Produce Journal out on October 17.

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