With five months to go before the 20th Under 40s conference in Leipzig, Germany, industry support is strong and the organising committee has a full programme planned for delegates.
Visits are already set up to juicing plants, ice-water cherry graders, government-funded research trials, bush fruit, soft fruit and top fruit farms. All are set in some of the most un-spoilt countryside in Europe and delegates will get an insight into the well funded and supported fruit industry of Germany.
For the first time, delegates from other European member states will also be joining the conference, lending further insight into other parts of the fruit sector.
There are expected to be around 100 delegates at the conference, and bookings have already begun to flood in following the launch of the programme at Fruit Focus last month. “We’re not saying that places are limited yet,” said delegate manager Karen Whiting of Berry Gardens, “but it would be better for delegates to book sooner rather than later.”
Industry support is as strong as ever with long-term supporters Bayer Cropscience, FPJ, Norman Collett Ltd, Haygrove, Omex, HOPS, Grow IT and NP Seymour all on board again. New backing comes from Mack Multiples, Exosect, the NFU, Crop Protech, SAL, Plant Impact and several others. NFU horticultural board chairman, Richard Hirst will be attending the conference, listening to the needs of the sector. He will also speak at the Gala dinner.
“With such outstanding support from within the fruit industry, we are proposing to deliver what we think will be one of the best conferences yet,” said chairman Sarah Calcutt. “All previous delegates need to be encouraging their friends and colleagues to come on the conference to see how the old eastern Germany has developed’.
The conference runs between January 28 and 31 2009 and the delegate cost is£195. Forms are available from U40@normancollett.com
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