There are growing fears that January’s wet weather could severely hamper the new-season crop.
Parts of the country saw the wettest January for 250 years, leaving many trees with their roots submerged for a prolonged period.
According to Adrian Barlow, chief executive of English Apples & Pears (EAP), that could result in tree deaths and incidences of canker. The situation is being complicated further by a lack of sub-zero weather to aid tree development.
“The warmer conditions prevents trees from fully shutting down,” said Barlow. “The vigour in the trees will not be as good because the trees haven’t shut down properly. We need some dry and cold weather.”
Barlow said it was too early to predict the impact on the start of the new season, but it is a further headache for growers who are already dealing with a season delayed by three weeks as a result of poor weather in 2013.
That has meant a lot of crop having to be sold in a shorter window, with retailers promoting more heavily to help shift product.
Meanwhile EAP has received a “helpful and conciliatory” response from the European Commission to Barlow’s campaign to reconsider what should be allowed as a health claim. EAP and Freshfel believe the EC is making it too difficult for fruit and vegetable producers to promote health credentials, and wants the Commission to take a softer stance. West Midlands MEP Andrea McIntyre is said to be supportive of the bid, and Barlow said the next step is to arrange a meeting to try to put forward the industry’s case.
In further news, EAP is working with UK Trade & Industry to help growers understand routes to export markets. With increased plantings leading to greater volumes of English fruit becoming available in future, Barlow says the “optimum level of supply” will be reached with UK customers and there should be opportunity to sell abroad.
The Middle and Far East are particularly attractive destinations, he said, but information needed to be gathered now on issues such as phytosanitary requirments.
No comments yet