Following a disappointing year of sales and returns for many English plum growers, a stonefruit meeting is being held to develop an action plan for 2012.
Some growers were satisfied with both the speed of sales and the level of returns but others gave reports of crops being unsold and returns that were below the costs of production, according to Adrian Barlow, chief executive of English Apples & Pears (EAP).
“Some growers announced that they would be grubbing their plum orchards as a result. At a time when the English crop is relatively small and there is increasing demand for locally grown supplies of fresh produce generally, this is an appalling situation that represents a considerable lost opportunity for the English industry,” Barlow said.
EAP has arranged an open meeting in the Conference Centre at East Malling Research on Tuesday 24 January 2012 to discuss what measures can be taken.
The meeting will be chaired by Sir Ben Gill and will start at 2pm. Both plums and cherries will be discussed.
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