The Journal gives a weekly update on events in our English apple orchards, using pictures and video clips to follow seasonal activities and giving the consumer a level of detail not available from any other source.
All aspects of growing, harvesting, storage, grading, packing and marketing are included enabling consumers to understand the challenges English growers face in supplying our sophisticated market place.
As another new year gets under way and in our orchards growers are busy with winter pruning, one very important role which is not highlighted enough is that of our agronomists. There are several high profile Agronomy services supporting our growers and indeed farmers in general.
In 'many years gone by - ' back in my youth, representatives of chemical supply companies would call on my father, have a chat, take a stroll in some orchards, maybe even stop for lunch or at the very least a cup of tea or coffee, all very enjoyable; "of course fruit growing was still quite profitable in those far off halcyon days (circa 60 - 70 years ago)
Today; a quarter of a century into this millennium, it is all so different. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the Modus Operandi.
Highly trained agronomists visit growers and discuss and the plans for the coming season. Maintaining a crop free of pest and/or disease is not easy; the weapons which would have been used 70 years ago are now long gone and materials kind to the environment are the status quo.
Biologicals and predators are the way forward and need vigilant examination of pest and disease present and accurate weather forecasts to ensure the efficacy of any applications.
An increasing reliance on predictive computer software is central to the agronomists tools, more accurate weather forecasting allows more effective application of protectants against apple scab.
With new methods of pest/disease control, the regular 'crop walking' by experienced agronomists if ESSENTIAL in the production of a healthy harvest.
The English Apple Man is very lucky to be friends with many brilliant agronomists who support our fruit industry with their expertise.
Occasionally these stars of 'Agronomy' move from one team to another, and I heard this week that one of my friends has ventured to pastures new!
January is a time for Conferences and this week The Oxford farming Conference 2025 is taking place
The 2025 conference is taking place from 8 to 10 January 2025. The event will be delivered as a hybrid, with the option to attend physically in Oxford or Online, with all main sessions at the Oxford Examination Schools live streamed for media.
Princess Anne looks set to keep her record as the 'hardest-working royal' as she carried out her first engagement on Thursday, marking her return to royal duties following the Christmas break.
Anne, 74, is the Honorary President of the Oxford Farming Conference and in her duties the royal attended their annual conference. The royal was seen arriving at the conference wearing a green tartan jacket which featured a stunning emerald brooch. Anne also wore a navy skirt and tights alongside a pair of black boots as she greeted representatives.
Well here we are, moving steadily into a new year!
For the past few days I have been pondering; "What to write about this week?
With a touch of irony, I picked up a short YouTube story on LINKEDIN on Thursday morning featuring Kyle Mathison from Stemilt in Wenatchee, Washington State USA, referencing Cherries, a major pert of the family business; Stemilt
His subject SNOW - "The deeper the better"
Click on: Kyle Mathison explains benefit of winter snow
Meet a man who certainly needs no introduction. Known for his blue jean overalls, ponytail and passion for nurturing his fruit trees, fourth generation farmer Kyle Mathison gets up each day with one mission in mind - to grow World Famous fruit.
The subject seemed a perfect story as back in early November 2001, "just a couple of months after the day that became 9/11 and shook the world, I visited Stemilt as part of my technical role with Worldwide Fruit Ltd with colleagues from WFL we accompanied Sainsburys Organic Fruit buyer and Technical Manager regarding the importation of Organic Apples from Stemilt". I have never forgotten that visit as the scale of Stemilt "blew the mind away"
After a long build up to Christmas, 'which seems to start back in September in the high street and garden centres, it's gone again for another year, as always there is lots of stuff left in the larder. Cakes, mince pies, sweets of various types, and the wine rack with bottles left to open!
It's always the case; but the left overs from Christmas festivities enhance January as all these goodies are gradually consumed. Today I'm looking forward to a slice of Christmas cake with my afternoon 'cup of tea' and in the evening I'll wind down with a glass (or two) of Port.
With just 5 more days until 2026 arrives this indulgence will no doubt 'broaden the waste line'
Reflecting on the past year, and what a year, globally war is a never ending 'black cloud' on all our horizons; why can't we live in peace?
With just 5 days until Christmas Day, The English Apple Man is in nostalgic mood.
As we prepare for the impending event, (my wife and I) All the Christmas cards written (by my wife) during November and now sent to family and friends, all with second class stamps affixed; just as well as 100 cards with £80 worth of stamps attached
Looking back over the 60+ years we have been married, lots of changes spring to mind!
In 1963 when we married a 1st Class stamp cost 3d for 1 oz raised to 4d for 2oz in 1965
2nd class stamps were not introduced until 16th September 1968!
1968 1st class 5d 2nd class 4d
Decimalisation UK 1971 was the change of the British currency system from pounds, shillings and pence to a decimal system of 100 new pence to the pound. The change took place on 15 February 1971, which was known as Decimal Day. The change affected the entire nation, as people had to learn a new way of valuing everything.....
1971 1st class 3p and 2nd class 2.5p
1975 1st class 8.5p 2nd class 6.5p
2000 1st class 27p 2nd class 19p
The first postage stamp was introduced in 1840 at 1d (penny black) still 1d in 1897 and raised to 1.5d in 1918 - Today the 1st Class stamp costs £1.65p and the 2nd class stamp 80p
For those to young to have experienced £ s d - (that's pounds, shillings & pence) a pound was divided into 240 pennies (d) and after decimalisation 100 pennies to the pound £ so a new penny is worth 2.5 old pennies (d) and in those days Dad would notionally value each class 1 apple at 'one shilling' = to 5p today!
"The British pre-decimal penny was a denomination of sterling coinage worth 1/240 of one pound or 1/12 of one shilling. Its symbol was d, from the Roman denarius".
Last week, The English Apple Man 'tuned into NIAB EMR 2024 Soft Fruit Review/' from the comfort of my armchair and lap top via a webinar hosted by Scott Raffle and featuring many of the NIAB scientists who are working on potential cutting edge solutions to the plethora of challenges faced by the British soft fruit industry
Niab Knowledge Exchange Manager Scott Raffle, commented, "The soft fruit industry is continually being challenged to maximise yields, increase circularity and sustainability within production businesses, and rely on environmental management techniques to harness natural control agents for pests and diseases. This event will focus on Growing Kent & Medway and other funded projects that seek to overcome some of these challenges "
Previous Niab work on the full yield potential of strawberry varieties Malling Champion and Malling Ace highlighted the variation in yield potential between individual plants. Work is now focused on optimising the propagation environment to produce plants of equal quality that have the same maximum yield potential. Niab is also working to optimise raspberry propagation to maximise plant uniformity.
My apologies, but due to 'time pressures' I have changed the subject from NIAB Soft Fruit Review (complex) to news from HortNews regarding The Prime Minister's invitation to NFU President Tom Bradshaw for a private discussion on farming issues
The Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer invites NFU President Tom Bradshaw to 10 Downing Street for discussions.
Below: Courtesy of HortNews
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer held private talks with NFU President Tom Bradshaw at 10 Downing Street on Monday 25 November.
A No. 10 spokesman said, "The Prime Minister did meet the National Farmers' Union president Tom Bradshaw on Monday afternoon. They had a wide-ranging conversation in which the Prime Minister recognised the strength of feeling about the changes to agricultural property relief set out in the Budget and listened to the NFU's concerns."
They continued, "In the meeting they discussed the Government's commitments to solidly protecting the interests of British farmers including in trade negotiations and in public sector procurement, as well as working together to ensure environmental land management schemes deliver for farmers.
"But the Prime Minister took the opportunity to have a constructive conversation with Mr Bradshaw about why we believe the changes are the right approach and to discuss how they can work together to support British farmers."
Speaking at the UK Onion & Carrot Conference two days later, Mr Bradshaw elaborated on the meeting. "
Following the meeting, Tom said, "I welcome the Prime Minister asking to hear directly about farmers' concerns, and I am grateful to him for taking the time to do so. I hope we can work together towards a resolution on this issue. The PM engaged with us and made the time to hear our story and I really hope this marks a moment where we can move forwards and get to an outcome that works for everyone."
Speaking on 27 November Tom added that while he understood calls for more direct action, and could not stop farmers from doing so, the NFU now believed the Government needed some time to be able to review the polices announced in the Budget.
December arrives on Sunday and there will be just three and a half weeks to Christmas Day
The sound of festive music is increasing as we visit shops in Town (some have been at it for a while now) and it always brings me back to when I was still growing apples. As we got into December and we were busy packing for Sainsburys and Tesco in my new Packhouse during the 1980's my staff played festive music continuously.
I first heard "Fairytale of New York" by the Pogue's Shane MacGowan and Kirsty McColl, released in 1987 and what an atmosphere there was then, wonderful, enhanced by fact that in those days apples were wanted, and reasonably rewarded by the retailers, it made for 'happy times'
Just lately I have been reminiscing about other happy times in the 'recent past' when my health allowed me to travel with apple/farming industry friends to events which I took for granted then, but are now beyond my capability!
Just last week the Interpoma Conference took place in Bolzano in Northern Italy, an event I used to visit Regularly.
This week thousands of UK farmers massed in London to protest the introduction of inheritance tax on farms
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Max MacGillivray, editor in chief of Beanstalk Global, captured the scene at the London Farmers protests against the government's new inheritance tax rules on 19 November
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.
This page initially shows the latest journals. You can use a journal's link to view the full story.
It is now much easier to find a particular journal of interest. Just type your search terms into the search box or select the month and/or year and click Submit.
I have completed the process of reworking my entire archive of journal pages into the style of the new website to make them more accessible to users of mobile phones etc.
Although the content now adapts to the size of the display, some of the archived journals still have photographs that won't fit and so get cropped. Archived journals are best viewed on a computer screen!