On Wednesday 6th November the 91st Anniversary Annual Fruit Show took place at The Kent Event Centre at Maidstone in Kent
Following the challenges faced by the fruit industry in recent season and the impact on last year's 90th Anniversary Show, this year's show was a smaller show but as always the Show Fruit Competition was at the heart of this one day event.
The show was opened by Tom Bradshaw, President of the National Farmers Union, who gave a keynote speech and toured the show, meeting with fruit growers and industry leaders.
The National Fruit Show is organised by growers, for growers, and showcases the finest British apples, pears, and nuts with a large display at the centre of the show.
Nigel Bardsley, chairman of the National Fruit Show, welcomed guests to the show. He said: "Despite the challenges of the British weather, there is a good crop of fruit, which is tasting and looking good and coloured.
Below: Tom Bradshaw with Helen Whatley Conservative MP for Faversham & Mid Kent
NFU President Tom Bradshaw opened the 2024 National Fruit Show maintaining the support for the annual show and following Minette Batters the previous NFU President who opened the 2023 show.
Below: Best in Show Winner - Jazz entry from Chandler & Dunn
Below: Show fruit display with Braeburn in the foreground
Below: Tom Bradshaw
Tom Bradshaw said: "The new government recognised in its manifesto that food security is a key part of our national security and also spoke about the role food plays in health. However, with labour costs accounting for up to 70% of the cost of production, the National Insurance hikes and National Living Wage increases announced in the budget have hugely inflated the cost of producing the nation's fruit and vegetables. Growers must be able to recover a fair return from the market. I urge retailer buyers to act responsibly as we move into our fourth year of cost inflation in the sector.
"We need government, retailers and growers alike to drive the growth in the sectors. The foundations for this are policies that give the confidence for businesses to make significant investments for the future. A long-term seasonal worker scheme, a planning policy that works including reviewing why horticultural sites are required to deliver biodiversity net gain, and a market that gives fair returns for the risks incurred are key cornerstones elements of this."
Below: Gala display
Ali Capper, executive chair of British Apples & Pears Limited
Ali Capper, executive chair of British Apples & Pears Limited (BAPL) the top fruit grower organisation, also spoke at the President's breakfast: "The National Fruit Show is a great opportunity to showcase the very best of British fruit. Our apple and pear growers have been working hard to ensure 2024 is a very good crop year and we're seeing some truly exceptional colour on the apples.
"After several years of extreme inflationary pressures, things were definitely starting to look up. Longer-term contracts with retailers are being discussed and agreed, and this provides growers with much needed certainty to invest in the future. However, the recent proposed changes to APR and BPR announced by the government last week have definitely undermined farmer confidence.
"Despite these recent, serious concerns, we are trying to retain our positive outlook, and that attitude has enabled us to reaffirm our ambition to double the volume of British apples we produce. In 2012/13, just 17% of all apples sold in UK supermarkets were British. By 2022/23 this had peaked at 32% market share. This was a phenomenal achievement by British growers.
"Now, we want to double that again. We want 60% of all apples sold in UK supermarkets to be British by 2035. With cutting-edge storage facilities and fantastic varieties, there is less and less reason to turn to imports."
Ali Capper referenced a climate change map from the World Bank showing that many apple-growing areas of the world will experience extreme heat and water pressure that will hamper apple growing overseas. She also highlighted WAPA data which revealed that 13 of 20 European apple-growing countries had declining three-year average volumes.
She said: "The UK really is a great place to grow fresh produce - we're not facing the same climate change pressures as other parts of the world - and that's why we need to invest now in orchard expansion and increasing domestic food security."
A new innovation at this year's show, was the NFU 'tasting Table' allowing visitors to taste and compare the show fruit. My son Stuart suggested the idea after last year's show and it proved to be a great success, becoming a 'focal point' at the show.
Below: left. NFU personnel manning the tasting table and right. Stuart with Ali Capper
Fraternising with old friends
One of my great pleasures is bumping into old friends at any National Fruit Show. One who I only seem to meet up with on an annual basis is Ashley Goodhew from Sandhurst, as well as being apple growers in our younger days, we were regular visitors at pubs around Kent & Sussex after mid week social cricket events where we spent as much, if not more time in the pub playing silly games. Great memories!
Also catching up wit Alan Harvey from Hadlow College who became a friend during my many visits to the college for 'discussion group' meetings and other college associated events
More happiness personified; Charlie Dunn and Peter Chandler of Chandler & Dunn fruit growers at Goldstone in East Kent show their delight after winning seven categories with their Jazz awarded 'Best in Show'
Below: left. Visiting Alan Harvey on the Hadlow College stand with Ashley Goodhew and right. a very happy Charlie Dunn and Peter Chandler winners of seven categories with Jazz apples
Below: left. Piper's Family winning Comice Pears and right. Conference Pear Display
Catherine Paice, president of the National Fruit Show and Marden Fruit Show Society, said: "It was a terrific day that would make anyone proud of the industry's achievements. Congratulations to all those who contributed to a spectacular display of fruit, a real showcase for British growers, and to organisers, sponsors and supporters for all their hard work and considerable input. We can look forward to next year with great positivity."
The English Apple Man Comments
After the challenges of the last years, this slimmed down show was a great success. While smaller than past years, all exhibitors I spoke to were upbeat and pleased. After the 'gloom of last year' Growers seemed to be more positive about the future. No doubt the better balance between supply and demand is a key factor.
Chairman Nigel Bardsley & his team have worked very hard over the last year to re-structure the show and should be congratulated.
That is all for this week, but much more coverage of the 2024 National Fruit Show in next week's Journal
Take care
The English Apple Man