Lighter evenings and welcome milder temperatures mean spring is just around the corner, heralding the greatest awards event in the industry. Yes, it’s nearly Re:fresh time!

The awards entries, which have started arriving at the FPC office from the early birds among you, are an indicator that this is going to be another bumper year, and in answer to the many calls we have received requesting extra time, in order to give you all a chance we have moved the deadline back a couple of weeks to Friday 23 March. There is a category for everyone and the accolade that comes with getting through to the finals definitely makes it worth a shot, so if you are undecided, take my advice and have a go - this could be your year! Criteria and entry forms can be downloaded from www.refresh.uk.com/awards.

Organisation is well under way to produce another outstanding event back at the popular Intercontinental Park Lane with an afternoon conference. Look out for the packed programme to be published in the next few weeks at www.refresh.uk.com/conference and make sure you book early to take advantage of the early bird rate. The great Oscar-style awards extravaganza is not to be missed and is a guaranteed top draw networking opportunity, with every key business in the industry represented. A fun-packed evening with the finest cuisine promoting the very best fresh produce - and tickets on sale at a seriously competitive price - provide an excellent backdrop to entertain your customers and suppliers. You can book now at www.refresh.uk.com/register.

I would personally like to thank our major sponsors Prophet and Florette for their ongoing support, and also the current and new category sponsors - this is another great opportunity to raise your profile so if you’re interested in finding out more give us or the FPJ team a call.

I was intrigued to note that there is a potential drought on its way in England and considering we were in Scotland last week, which is experiencing the opposite and has more than its fair share of rain, it seems to me we should be looking more closely at the Victorians’ innovative pipelines, still in use today to pump water from the Scottish Highlands, to feed the cities. There must be enough water left over to redistribute to a vast area south of Hadrian’s Wall.

We were back in Glasgow at the wholesale market, learning more about the redevelopment plans and then on to visit FPC member and Re:fresh award-winning Albert Bartlett, to meet Gillian Kynoch and the team and to look around the state-of-the-art site at Airdrie.

Maroc Export and the Moroccan Embassy have invited us on another spring trip to Meknes and this year they are concentrating on UK potential investors in the agro-business sector, farming and food processing, so if you’re interested give Angie a call. We are also finalising our June trip to China and will publish a programme soon. -