A change in the weather; after a 'near perfect' growing season for our apple & pear growers, followed by an equally 'near perfect' harvest period, well until this week!
Last week's visits to local Farm Shops were very encouraging; not all grow their own, but do source from growers in their locality. Probably one of the best examples of 'home grown' is Ringden Farm at Flimwell, where the Dench family grow circa 40 different varieties and produce a wide range of apple juices.
The English Apple Man bought; Cox, Gala, Red Devil, Lord Lambourne, Meridian, Limelight, Elstar, Rubinola apples and Conference pears. In addition John Dench gave me some Pink Golden Delicious apples to try; actually a sport; Pinkgold® Leratess which has better colour and flavour.
All the apples bought at Ringden were: crisp and juicy; flavour varied, depending on maturity, but all fruit sampled had good flavour, while Egremont Russet and Limelight had 'very good 'flavour. Conference pears were also juicy with 'superb' flavour.
My visit to Poppinghole Farm Shop on the A21 at Robertsbridge found a selection of apples grown by Vanessa DeQuincey on her family fruit farm in Salehurst, less than one mile from Poppinghole.
At Poppinghole Farm Shop, the Egremont Russet, Lord Lambourne and Cox were all crisp and juicy with good flavour, but the Ida Red were crisp and juicy, but lacked flavour.
Below left: Apples & Pears bought at Ringden Farm and Below right: Apples bought at Poppinghole Farm Shop
Visiting Great Park Farm at Catsfield was a memorable experience; in addition to the apples & pear on the Farm Shop, a wide selection of home produced produce filled the shelves and while there my wife and I enjoyed a delicious 'Welsh Rarebit' in the delightful cafe.
The English Apple Man bought Cox, Gala, Spartan, Egremont Russet, Red Windsor, Robijn and Rubinette apples + Conference pears.
The Robijn were crisp and juicy, with good flavour, Gala crisp & juicy with ok flavour, Spartan crisp, juicy with lovely fresh while flesh (typical for the variety) and with developing flavour; Egremont Russet crisp, juicy and good flavour and the Rubinette crisp, juicy with good flavour. The EAM found the Cox to be the outstanding sample with a crisp, juicy texture and 'very good' flavour. Conference pears juicy with good flavour.
All the apples bought at Hope Cottage Farm Shop scored well on The English Apple Man's 'barometer' with Egremont Russet, Gala, Cox and Red Windsor all very crisp and juicy and all with good flavour, although the Cox was a little on the 'tart' side; 'a characteristic many consumers embrace'
Below left: Apples & Pears bought at Great Park Farm and Below right: Apples bought at Hope Cottage Farm Shop
Below: Organic apples bought at the Organic Farm at Sedlescombe
Certainly value for money (at 50p a bag) but while the Egremont Russet had very good texture and excellent taste, the Red Delicious was disappointing, both texture and taste.
While many of the varieties in Farm Shops are also found on Supermarket shelves, The English Apple Man found some of the more unfamiliar varieties in the Farm Shops we visited.
Elstar Golden Delicious x Ingrid Marie cross, raised in 1955 by Dr T. Visser at IVT,Wageningen, The Netherlands. Fruits are sweet, crisp and juicy.
Robijn is a mutation of Jonagold Decosta, but its flavour is more like Elstar. In addition, this is the only Jonagold mutation that is so early.
Rubinette A Golden Delicious x Cox's Orange Pippin cross, which originates from: Rafz (north of Zurich), Switzerland. Rubinette has a reputation for excellent flavour.
Rubinola A mid-season disease-resistant variety from the Czech Republic, with a very good flavor. Rubinola is a Prima x Rubin cross.
Red Devil A Discovery x Kent cross developed by UK breeder Hugh Ermen.
Limelight A Discovery x Greensleeves cross developed by UK Breeder Hugh Ermen.
Pinkgold® Leratess (Pink Golden Delicious) Grower John Dench at Ringden Farm said the Pinkgold® Leratess which originates from Pépinières du Valois in France and is 25%sweeter than the standard Golden Delicious.
On Tuesday, The English Apple Man visited M&S in Tunbridge Wells (while waiting for my car to be serviced) and took stock of the English Apples on display.
On display a new 'kid on the block' - Daliclass (Limited Edition) grown by Robert Pascal at Coxheath in Kent; priced at £2 x 4 apples. Daliclass is a Elstar x Pilot cross bred by Davodeau Ligonnière in France.
Daliclass has a firm, crispy texture, nice flavour with a hint of acidity.
Also on display: Comice pears @ £2 x 4. Loose Conference @ £2 kg. 'Tree Ripe Cox @ £2.50 x 4 apples or 2 packs for £4. Polybag Cox x 6 @ £2. Delbard Estivale @ £2 x 4 apples. Royal Gala @ £2.15 x 6 apples or 2 packs for £4. Loose Bramley @ £1.65kg. Loose Cox @ £2kg. Loose Gala @ £1.95kg.
Yesterday (Thursday) a visit to LIDL where most of the apples & pears on offer were imported. Once again only the Cox was 'home grown' while Portugal, Italy and Holland were the sources of the rest. The English Apple Man bought a 4 pack (600g) of Italian Organic Gala for assessment; good flavour, but softening texture. Only £1 but.........
Portuguese Gala @ £1.09 kg. Dutch Conference Pears @ £1.29 kg. Cox apples @ £1 kg. Loose Italian Gala @ £1.75 kg. Italian Golden Delicious @ £1.75 kg. 'Red Apples (Italian Gala) Polybags @ £2 for 2kg. and 1kg Polybags @ £1.39 kg
The 2014 National Fruit Show
Next week the National Fruit Show takes place at the Detling Show Ground near Maidstone, it is now 81 years since the first show back in 1933.
This trade show is the highlight of the English 'Top Fruit' season and an important event for 'lauding' the achievements of English Apple & Pear growers and the myriad of suppliers essential to our success as an industry.
Below: part of last years show fruit.
However: after a few good years, we are facing another challenge as global politics interfere with our markets. The decision by Russia to ban imports of produce (and lots of apples) from Europe has thrown an 'enormous brick in the ocean' impacting on those countries who depend on exports to Russia; Poland is the major EU exporter, may seem a 'price' opportunity for consumers, but neither growers nor consumers will benefit in the long run.
Under 40's at The National Fruit Show
The Under 40s Conference offers our young people an opportunity to access and discuss the latest insight and technology developing in the fruit industry both at home and overseas. These Conferences can broaden horizons, provide the opportunity to get to know ones contemporaries in the fruit industry and disseminate ideas and make friendships.
Message from the Under 40's Committee
"The U40's 2015 trip has been announced, we will be heading to Benelux (Belgium and the Netherlands) on the 25th to 28th February. Plans for the Conference are nearly complete we will be visiting:
Top and stone fruit nurseries in Holland & Belgium, apple, pear and cherry growers, an auction house and a large packing and storage facility, a research institute and a large Belgian fruit machinery factory.
If you would like to know more, or would like to book on to the trip please come and find us at the national fruit show. Committee member Alex Cooke will be around both days at the Agrovista stand to answer questions and other members of the committee will be on hand at 3pm on Wednesday 15th again at the Agrovista stand".
Visit the The Under 40' Website for up to date information.
FESTIVAL OF BRITISH FRUIT
The very successful after show event; The Festival of British Fruit will take place this year on Saturday 18th October 2014 at St. Anselms in Kennington London.
Below a notice from The Kennington Country Life 'events' page.
FESTIVAL OF BRITISH FRUIT
Saturday 18th October (10am - 4pm) Free event for guests to purchase fresh fruit, take part in baking and bobbing, and drink great quality coffee - provided by The Coffee Mob
Below a lovely moment in London for Dr.Theresa Huxley and her friends; Theresa is a very supportive friend of the fruit industry and The English Apple Man
Last Sunday Theresa Huxley a member of the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers joined friends in the Worshipful Company of Woolmen as they exercised their rights to shepherd their sheep across London Bridge. This was a 'fun event' with a message promoting the Charitable side of the Livery Companies and an opportunity to have a fun day in the process.
In the photos, Theresa is in her group of ten friends as they 'shepherd' their sheep across London Bridge and on the right dressed for the part in a 'shepherdess frock' of pure new British wool hood and shawl and complete with Shepherds Crook decorated with her Fruiterers Scarf and carrying a basket of fruit. Theresa is accompanied by The Master of Woolmen - Richard Excell.
Richard told Theresa, the Woolmen's plan is to make it an annual event partly to help show the City where its food comes from, and partly to underscore the Charitable side of the Livery movement, and partly to have a good fun day for Freemen and their friends and family and of course exercise their traditional rights as Freeman with a bit of Fancy Dress and pageantry
The Worshipful Company of Woolmen
The Worshipful Company of Fruiterers
That is all for this week; next week The English Apple Man will be very involved with the National Fruit Show. Pictures and a report will appear in The Journal for 17th October
Take care
The English Apple Man