More from last week's National Fruit Show
Chairman Nigel Bardsley and President Catherine Paice welcome NFU President Tom Bradshaw to the NFS.
With the Government doing their best to renege on pre-election promises, it is appropriate that the new NFU President attends and opens the 2024 show. The tradition of a 'high profile' guest continues; last year NFU President Anette Batters opened the show, in 2022 Her Royal Highness Sophie Countess of Wessex (now The Duchess of Edinburgh) honoured the show and in 2021 NFU President Anette Batters performed the opening ceremony.
National Fruit Show 2024
9.30am and visitors attend the 'official opening' of the 2024 National Fruit Show
On the day before the show, industry experts gather to judge the entries.
Below: some of the judges diligently inspecting the apples and pears for any defects, like bruise/blemish, pest damage, evenness of size and colour and internal disorders. Marks out of 100. The 2024 Best in Show mark was 97.5%
The Reverend Nicky Harvey - St.Michaels & All Angels Marden maintains a long held tradition, Blessing the fruits of our labour! and right Tom Bradshaw visits NP Seymour
National Fruit Show visitors inspect the show fruit
Below: left. Tom Bradshaw visits MAIN SPONSOR OnePay and right. MAIN SPONSOR Hutchinsons stand
Below: more images of the Hutchinsons Stand
Below: left. Tom Bradshaw visits Mandy Hounsell NFS Education leader and right, Tom Bradshaw in conversation with Helen Whatley MP, Robert Mitchell NFS Trustee and Ali Capper BAPL
National Fruit Show Education programme
Below: Tom Bradshaw visits the Jazz Van and right. The Best in Show winning Jazz grown by Chandler and Dunn
Below: left. The Agrovista Stand and right. The BIFGA Stand
Below: left. visitors on the Hutchinsons stand and right. The John Breach Stand
Below: NFS President Catherine Paice presents John Breach with the prestigious Jon Jones Award and right. NFS committee member and long time horticultural lecturer Joanna Wood enjoys Biddenden Vineyard's Sparkling Wine with Julien Barnes from Biddenden Vineyard
MAIN SPONSOR NP Seymour celebrated their 50 years in the Agricultural supply business
Below: NFU backing British Farming and right. The Lord Mayor of Maidstone visiting John Breach
The KIRKLAND stand is always a favourite destination for visitors, with great hospitality and a wide range of specialist machinery
Below: left. Charles Atkins poses with a new McCormick tractor and right. Rootwave technology 'zaps' weeds with high voltage electricity
a New Holland on the Haynes stand and right. Richard Smith Haynes
Many thanks to Martin Apps of Countrywide Photographic who took the pictures in this Journal
That is all for this week
Take care
The English Apple Man