The theme of this year's National Fruit Show is Fruit for Health and Wealth to highlight the government's determination to improve the nation's diet.

The show will run on October 19-20 at the Kent Showground in Detling.

"The National Fruit Show will be the first opportunity for growers, customers and interested public to meet," said Robert Mitchell show chairman. "There have been good reports across the country on this year's [top-fruit] crop with excellent taste and good storage ability."

More than 95 per cent of exhibitor space was filled several weeks ago with organisers confident of a 100 per cent take-up by next week. There are 11 new exhibitors this year including Massey Ferguson, BASF and Southern Harvesters.

There will be the usual full range of apple, pear, cobnuts and juice classes and this year West Country award-winning cider and perry producers have been invited to exhibit.

Fruit storage specialist ICA Ltd is the bonanza prize sponsor at this year's event. The Kent-based company company has supported the show for 30 years and this year will be donating a five-day trip to Hungary for the winner and their guest to enjoy. ICA has itself expanded into eastern Europe and also has operations in India and the US.

British Food Fortnight founder Alexia Robinson will speak at the show dinner at Leeds Castle and Richard Hirst and Michael Holmes of the NFU will address seminar sessions on the National School Fruit & Vegetable Scheme on the second day.

Guests include local Mps and Lord Mackie, vice-chairman of the British Parliamentary British Fruit Industry Group.

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