There is certainly a whiff of optimism in the air at the moment, and those of you who beat the snow and made it to Berlin would probably have got a good noseful.

The halls were teaming with people talking a very positive game and, in many cases, actively pursuing ways to expand their businesses through a variety of means. The berry supply industry, for one, is moulding itself into a truly global proposition.

It is not alone. The front page story for the second week running features English top fruit and, this time, a huge investment in Kent. The initiatives in both categories could be very significant for UK growers, whose channels to market are enhanced by such ventures.

In the berry category, there is reason to believe that a good-sized export market could develop through the greater involvement of UK-based suppliers in the continental arena. In top fruit, the immediate concern may not be exports, but anything that creates a more efficient infrastructure should herald a more robust supply chain.

Last week, I said the more positive outlook for apples in this country should not be overstated on the basis of one good season. I stand by that, but the internationalisation of the UK supplier base could prove to be the catalyst for a better deal for growers worldwide, when they supply the UK market.

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