The 2017 Fruit Focus was held on Wednesday 19th July at NIAB/EMR
Fruit Focus has changed over the years: it has always been a prominent opportunity to explore the supporting mechanisms for Soft Fruit, but in the last decade more and more attention has been focused on the rapid expansion of our viticulture industry.
In addition to suppliers of machinery and other essential services, Fruit Focus is an opportunity to celebrate the success of UK soft fruit production and 'network' with likeminded industry friends..........
Arriving early at Fruit Focus, The English Apple Man attended the Berry Gardens Press Conference. The soft fruit sector has been an outstanding success over the years as Strawberry, Raspberry and Blueberry supply has exploded from a few weeks of the season to an 8 month UK production cycle.
While a number of marketing groups have contributed to a £1 billion a year home grown soft fruit business, Berry Gardens are very much the supply chain 'market leaders' with a turnover in excess of £300,000,000.............
Founded over 40 years ago, Berry Gardens is the UK's leading berry and stone fruit production and marketing group with sales in 2016 of £318.7million, an increase of over 14% year on year and a year round business supplying all of Britain's leading retailers.
Below: On display some of the prominent Strawberries, Raspberries, Blueberries, Blackberries and Cherries among Berry Gardens variety portfolio...
Much of the Berry Gardens success has been generated by the partnership between Berry Gardens and Driscoll's and a continuous introduction of stunning new varieties.
Below: Riviera: described by Berry Gardens Chairman Alistair Brooks as being "a superb early primocane Raspberry with great fruit size and outstanding flavour" - also Driscoll's new Everbearer Strawberry Katrina
Below: Driscoll's Zara and Driscoll's Jubilee
Below: Kordia a 'star' among the many excellent Cherry varieties and the 'New Kid on the Block' Driscoll's Victoria a stunning new sweet Blackberry which will change the consumer's perception of Blackberries...
Berry Gardens Chairman Alistair Brooks and CEO Jacqui Green told the attending press representatives, 'Berry Gardens' has enjoyed an early strawberry season, with the first pick on 28th February........Alistair Brooks said the last few weeks have been 'challenging' due to the warm weather - 'particularly in England' but due to the investments we have made in recent years to ensure fruit is chilled to under 10 degrees C within an hour of picking and 4 degrees within 3 hours "we have ensured best eating quality through the excellent weather"
The warm weather increased production, but also demand enticing the British consumer to buy even more berries.....and Berry Gardens enjoyed a record 'last week of June' with record sales of £11.2 million.
CEO Jacqui Green commented: "coupled with the high levels of 'growing degree hours' (warm weather) during March and April availability increased and several retailers have "supported our growers" by introducing larger packs, earlier than normal....to maintain availability "we are increasing plantings of new Everbearer varieties, Driscoll's Julietta and Olivia....
Berry Gardens saw a high of 1,693 tonnes of Strawberries sold in mid June this year, with the latest Summer Fruit figures reporting Berry Gardens share of the UK strawberry market at 35% during this crucial period........
Jacqui Green also told the press attending about the success of Coolio a 'free standing refrigeration unit' which increased the sales of Strawberries by 30%........click on COOLIO
Below: Berry Gardens Chairman Alistair Brooks and CEO Jacqui Green
Raspberries
The success of soft fruit categories continues, as the Raspberry category increased by nearly 13% year on year (by volume) and Berry Gardens share of UK production reached over 53% at the end of June.........Berry Gardens share of UK Raspberry sales: year to date is 45% compared to 32% last year....
Sweet Blackberries
The latest data indicates the Blackberry category is growing t 15% by volume 'year on year' driven by varieties such as Driscoll's Victoria: Berry Gardens share of UK sales this year, according to British Summer Fruits is 47% compared to 40% last year......
Alistair Brooks said: "several of our growers have introduced 'glass house production' of Driscoll's Victoria allowing production of good quality Blackberries maintained into late Autumn.....
British Blueberries
The British public's love of Blueberries continues and as a category is worth over £350 million representing growth of over 12% year on year: penetration (consumers) is now at a high of 47% .........
British Cherries
Jacqui Green said: Although the season is still in the first month (or so) volumes have been helped by the cold winter followed by ideal conditions during flowering and pollination.....as a group, "we are estimating our tonnage by mid August to be 'up' 141% year on year from 1,180 tonnes in 2016 to 2,855 tonnes in 2017 and expect to end the British season with 3,300 tonnes.....several retailers have suppre the increased production with the introduction of 1kg boxes in store and increased advertising.......
Brexit
Brexit continues to be an issue for the whole industry and the recent Anderson Report commissioned by British Summer Fruits highlight some of the challenges facing growers over the next few years with securing labour for an ever 'growing' market....
A grower's comment: "We are already seeing the effects of uncertainty, in previous years we would have had 10 applicants fpr every job' it has now fallen to just 3 applicants per job.
NFU Forums
The 'Forums' are a regular and valuable part of Fruit Focus: The National Farmers Union (NFU) are working hard to ensure the Brexit process does not damage the success of UK agriculture and Horticulture. As a Nation we rather take for granted the availability of high quality food, at affordable prices, produced safely and with minimum impact on our environment. Without a viable farming community the 'status quo' will be lost and sustainable 'home grown' food will be in danger.
The first of two NFU Forums: Chaired by Hayley Campbell-Gibbons, NFU Chief Horticultural Advisor and supported on the NFU panel by Laurence Olins (British Summer Fruits) Amy Gray, NFU Horticultural Adviser and Stephanie Maurel, Chief Executive, Concordia
Below: The NFU Panel; Laurence Olins, Stephanie Maurel, Hayley Campbell-Gibbons and Amy Gray
Below: Amy Gray - 'Securing sufficient labour for the Horticultural industry'
Access to seasonal workers is a problem that existed before the EU referendum, but the result has fast-tracked the problem, says Amy Gray, NFU horticultural adviser. Unresolved questions around free movement of labour, fluctuating exchange rates and the availability of workers in the future are all serious issues facing producers. "Without a seasonal workforce to carry out time-sensitive jobs, such as harvest work or pruning, there is little doubt that the industry will grind to a halt."
The NFU survey identified a number of critical areas of concern: the availability of labour, the quality of labour, the effect of the devalued pound and increased opportunities for EU workers within the EU' all contribute to the challenge facing UK growers...
Below: Canvassing the opinions of labour suppliers.......comments tell the tale....
Below: NFU surveys represent 30% of the industry - Grower survey opinions and the reduction of 'returning' workers are key indicators of the problems facing UK producers
Below: Recruitment targets and survey proportions
For more information: click on BRITISH SUMMER FRUITS
More on Fruit Focus in next week's English Apple Man Journal.........the EAM is off to The West Midlands next week and will be reporting on visits to fruit growers in the region in future English Apple Man Journals....
Take care
The English Apple Man