As we enter November, our apple harvesting continues with the later maturing varieties still being picked, and the annual National Fruit Show set for next Wednesday 6th November,
Below: left. Most growers are near the end of apple harvest and right. NFS show fruit display
The National Fruit Show has been a part of my life for more than 50 years, and after the difficulties of the last few years, it will be a new approach this year with a slimmed down 'one day' show.
Click on The National Fruit Show 2024
British Apples and Pears (BAPL) released marketing data this week
A message from BAPL Chair Ali Capper
"September saw good volumes of new season British apples available from British Apples & Pears Limited (BAPL) growers, but not all UK supermarkets were quick to stock their shelves.
Aldi and Lidl both hit the ground running with strong September performances for British apples sold by BAPL growers. One in four British apples sold in September were to Aldi (27.5%). Lidl also started very well, as they took 20.7% (1,401 tonnes) of all British apples in the month. This compares very favourably with their grocery market shares of 9.8% (Aldi) and 8.1% (Lidl).
"Aldi really was the standout performer." Explained BAPL executive chair, Ali Capper. "The supermarket more than quadrupled their volume compared to September 2023 - from 405 tonnes in September last year to 1,862 tonnes in September 2024."
Tesco had a surprisingly slow start to the new British apple season. Tesco was ranked fourth in the September 2024 league table, taking just 13.9% (938 tonnes) of British apples, well behind Aldi and Lidl, and just under half their grocery market share of 28%.
Sainsbury's also had a slow start selling 14% (949 tonnes) of the new season crop, compared to their grocery market share of 15.2%. Asda is also worthy of a mention as they sold 7.9% (531 tonnes) of the September British apple volume, which is a huge improvement on their September 2023 volume of just 86 tonnes.
"It's early days," admitted Ali Capper, "but we know from our social media channels that shoppers get very frustrated when they are looking for new season British apples in the supermarkets and can't find them. That's why we really need all the supermarkets to be quick off the mark at the start of the new season."
Lidl and Aldi also had very strong performance for British pear sales in September 2024. Lidl took 29.1% (239 tonnes) of all British pears sold to UK supermarkets by BAPL growers and Aldi took 25.7% (211 tonnes). However, both supermarkets were pipped to the British pear September top spot by Sainsbury's. In September 2024, Sainsbury's took almost a third (32.4%) of all British pears sold by BAPL growers.
Full details of BAPL member monthly sales can be viewed at: https://www.britishapplesandpears.co.uk/supermarket-sales-data.
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Today's Budget is a blow to British farmers and could lead to food price rises, the NFU has warned.
"When you look farmers in the eye and make them a promise, keep it."
NFU President Tom Bradshaw
Reacting to the announcements, NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: "This Budget not only threatens family farms but will also make producing food more expensive. This means more cost for farmers who simply cannot absorb it, and it will have to be borne by someone. Farmers are down to the bone and gristle, who is going to carry these costs?
For the full content of Tom Bradshaw's analysis, read.......
Budget blow for British Farmers
The English Apple Man Comments
Before the Budget the access to harvest workers had caused alarm, with a desperate need for clarity regarding the Seasonal Workers Scheme.
Below: A statement from The NFU after the Government's confirmation of the Seasonal Workers Scheme for 2025
While it is positive that the Seasonal Workers Scheme (SWS) has been confirmed by the government for 2025, it is essential to our food security and environmental delivery that horticulture businesses get the certainty of a long-term scheme they can plan around, says the NFU.
The NFU has been pressing the critical role that seasonal workers have in the UK's farming and growing businesses with the government for several months and prior to that over a number of years when they were in opposition. It is good to see that the government recognised the positive experience the vast majority of workers have with farmers and growers in the UK, following 95% of respondents expressing a desire to return to the UK in the Seasonal Worker's Survey.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: "For the many horticulture businesses that produce climate-friendly food and plants for the country, this news will be a relief as they will be able to plan for the year ahead. But farming and growing businesses don't just work on year-to-year production cycles, they plan their business operations years ahead.
"As has been widely reported confidence of farmers and growers is at an all-time low and worker availability has been a significant barrier to growth - a key mission of the new government. Horticulture businesses in the UK both have the ambition to grow, but essential to this is long-term certainty. The recent recommendations by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) recognised how significantly important the SWS is to domestic food security and the vital need for a long-term scheme. We urge the government to publish its response to the MAC report as soon as possible, to give farming and growing businesses the confidence needed to invest in the country's food security and deliver for its environmental targets.
That is all for this week, next week the Journal will report on the 2024 National Fruit Show
Take care
The English Apple Man