Confidence in the future of English apples and pears was high as the industry celebrated the 75th anniversary of the National Fruit Show.
Fruit entries and trade stands were up in number, which was testament to the positive mood of the industry despite the gloomy financial outlook, said Jeremy Scott, chairman of show organiser the Marden Fruit Show Society at its launch on Wednesday. Newcomers in other produce classes, ranging from soft fruit, tomatoes and pumpkins to nuts, had also increased.
There were indications that the order of the guard in top-fruit production is continuing to change shape in keeping with modern tastes. Rubens and Jazz were judged in classes of their own this year, while Spartan and Jonagold were relegated to the “any other varieties” class.
A record Gala crop will mean the UK is self-sufficient between November and April, said Adrian Barlow, chief executive of English Apples & Pears.
He added that this is the aspect of the industry’s achievements that should be stressed by national media, in place of a preoccupation with ancient varieties and their purchase in farmers’ markets and farm shops. Barlow said the image being portrayed distorts the reality of an industry that is moving forward.
Latest crop news after a difficult start to the season indicates that the Bramley crop, in the cooker’s bicentennial year, could now be 15 per cent higher than last year, after an improvement in size profile brought on by early autumn sunshine.
Barlow also praised retail promotional support to date, highlighting Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose, but warned that in the months to come, growers must earn sufficient money to be profitable enough to maintain the high level of re-investment that makes progress possible.
