Due to the English Apple Man receiving 'minor operation' (Carpal Tunnel) two weeks ago the 'right hand has not been able to perform it's routine tasks easily. Thankfully stiches were removed yesterday and normality is approaching.
Of interest!
Below: Left to right. Guy Singh-Watson (Riverford) Ali Capper (BAPL) and Sysco GB representative
At the recent Festival of Fresh held at Evesham United
Ali Capper, Sysco GB and Riverford were among the award winners at FPJ's 2024 open-air summer festival
Winners were carefully chosen by FPJ's editorial team for standout performance in the UK market over the past 12 months.
The awards were presented at Festival of Fresh 2024 which was hosted by Nationwide Produce at Evesham United Football Club on 13 June.
Of interest!
The importance of winter chill is discussed throughout the winter months by those in the fruit industry. Agronomists record the amount of 'winter chill' on a weekly basis, drawing comparisons with previous seasons.
Calculating 'winter chill' generally refers to a period of cold temperatures above freezing, but there are several different ways to calculate chill accumulation. An ideal chill is a period of 0-7 degrees C.
Below zero temperatures do not assist the 'winter chill physiology' hovering in the chill zone is the ideal scenario".
This requirement varies by variety and by fruit. Apples and Cherries for example! Apple varieties like Gala need less than Cox. Cherries need less than in past history due to the new rootstocks and varieties, but it is still an important factor.
Plants need sufficient cold to resume normal spring growth following the winter dormant period. This is commonly referred to as its "chilling requirement." Plant species as well as horticultural varieties vary widely in their winter cold requirement. Fruit trees need 'winter chill' - the warmer winters have led to a less certain level of winter chill. Simplistically, apples in the UK need circa 800 to 1200 chill units by the end of February to ensure quality flowers at blossom time.
Over the last ten years, the winter chill has varied enormously, with 2016 just about 'scraping home'
Now this season we are questioning the sufficiency of the last winter chill.
My 'agronomist friend' sent me these pictures of cherries ripening unevenly, today I bought cherries from my local cherry grower Michael and I asked his mother who diligently sorts each punnet before they go on sale., if she had observed this uneven ripening and she confirmed it is a frustrating issue this year. Makes picking difficult!
Below: Pictures of Uneven ripening of cherries
So I asked my agronomist friend - "didn't we get enough winter chill this year? - "Well came the reply, I think it was marginal and we may see a similar phenomenon with apples too!
Below: left. Michael's Cherry Stall and right. my cherries purchased today
Of interest!
Below: left and right. Braeburn trees and beneath 'natural drop' fruitlets
We have now reached that stage of he season where the 'natural thinning' has taken place on our apple trees and it's time to evaluate if further 'hand tinning' is required!
My regular readers will be aware of the 'often mentioned' Supermarket requirement (dare ii say demand) for dessert apples of a specific size. Growers therefore must manage the crop load on a tree enabling the optimum size profile at harvest time. In most cases the objective is to ensure the size is 'big enough' at harvest, ---
BUT, Braeburn (pictured) can, unless carrying a very heavy crop grow too big, so the grower will assess the crop load and calculate the probable size at harvest, and if required remove apples which will be to big at harvest.
Of interest!
The forest bug (A.K.A. red-legged shieldbug, Pentatoma Rufipes) is a commonly occurring and widespread shieldbug species in the UK. It is particularly associated with woodland habitats and may remain in woodlands throughout the year, feeding on tree species such as oak, beech and hazel. However, forest bug also occurs in orchards and is emerging as an important pest of tree fruit in northern Europe.
Their feeding activity on developing fruits is being linked with pitting and distortion damage to apples and pears:
Below: left. Forest Bug and right. typical Forest Bug damage
Of interest!
The English Apple Man is a great supporter of all our fruit growers, wether top fruit, soft fruit or stone fruit. We are spoilt by the qualty of apples, pears, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cherries, plums, apricots et al.
In early June, forecasts of our British Strawberry supply warned that: The UK strawberry harvest has been delayed by two weeks because of the weather, but berries are now expected to be bigger and juicer because of the wet growing conditions.
The UK is self-sufficient in strawberries from May to October producing about 230m punnets, according to the British Berry Growers.
Like many UK strawberry growers, Chambers Farm in Dartford, Kent, has installed polytunnels to help the strawberries grow.
James Miller, the farm's commercial director, said: "We haven't seen any extreme weather, such as big frosts, which means the plants aren't stressed - the fruit will be good."
Below: left. British Strawberries and right. a punnet of Strawberries bought by the EAM locally grown by Hugh Lowe farms
The UK season usually begins with June-bearing strawberry varieties in late spring, before transitioning to ever-bearing ones from July. However, it was delayed by more than a fortnight owing to unseasonably cold weather during the spring months.
Thanks to a hot spell over the past week, the crop has come on, with large volumes expected in the coming weeks, according to British Summer Fruits chairman Nick Marston.
"Because it's a late season, when production does start, it starts in quite a bit of volume. Having said that, demand is in-step with supply across the industry," he said. "you will still get the same amount of fruit, you will just get it in two weeks less time
Of interest!
Description: ApistarR is a spectacular looking star shaped apple with 5 angular sides, rather than the typical rounded shape. Yellow with orange flush. It tastes delicious eaten or cooked and the apples can be used for decoration purposes. Pick in October and store until Christmas this apple is on the tart side but a wonderful novelty addition to the garden!
History: Reports of 5 sided angular apples go back to the Roman times so this apple has got ancient roots!
Apistar R is available from Frank P Matthews Nursery
Of interest!
My sense of humour saw this funny story on line and could not resist publishing it in today's Journal
A duck walks into a pub and orders a pint of beer and a ham sandwich.
The barman looks at him and says,
"Hang on! You're a duck."
"I see your eyes are working," replies the duck.
"And you can talk" !!
Exclaims the barman.
"I see your ears are working, too,"
Says the duck.
"Now if you don't mind, can I have my beer and my sandwich please?"
"Certainly, sorry about that,"
Says the barman as he pulls the duck's pint.
"It's just we don't get many ducks in this pub. What are you doing around this way?"
"I'm working on the building site across the road," Explains the duck.
"I'm a plasterer."
The flabbergasted barman cannot believe the duck and wants to learn more, but takes the hint when the duck pulls out a newspaper from his bag and proceeds to read it.
So, the duck reads his paper, drinks his beer, eats his sandwich, bids the barman good day and leaves.
The same thing happens for two weeks.
Then one day the circus comes to town.
The ringmaster comes into the pub for a pint and the barman says to him
"You're with the circus, aren't you? Well, I know this duck that could be just brilliant in your circus. He talks, drinks beer, eats sandwiches, reads the newspaper and everything!"
"Sounds marvellous," says the ringmaster, handing over his business card.
"Get him to give me a call."
So the next day when the duck comes into the pub the barman says,
"Hey Mr Duck, I reckon I can line you up with a top job, paying really good money."
"I'm always looking for the next job,"
Says the duck.
"Where is it?"
"At the circus,"
Says the barman.
"The circus?"
Repeats the duck.
"That's right,"
Replies the barman.
"The circus?"
The duck asks again.
with the big tent?"
"Yeah," the barman replies.
"With all the animals who live in cages, and performers who live in caravans?" says the duck.
"Of course," the barman replies.
"And the tent has canvas sides and a big canvas roof with a hole in the middle?" persists the duck.
"That's right!" says the barman.
The duck shakes his head in amazement, and says;
"What the hell would they want with a plasterer" ??? 
That is all for this week
Take care
The English Apple Man