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.
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.
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
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
Last week The English Apple Man featured a few new apple varieties and this week we will look at the history of Scarlett Paradise, Zingy R, and Kissabel
My regular readers will have an understanding of the importance in todays market place of Trade Marked varieties. The two leading Club varieties in British Supermarkets are Pink Lady and Jazz both excellent apples with dynamic marketing support.
The battle to breed and deliver new varieties with 'a point of difference' is an ongoing 'Global' obsession
"Consumers buy with their eyes and then repeat purchase happens because they have a good taste and texture experience."
While our UK growers are still busy picking this year's crop, new season apples and pears are appearing on Supermarket shelves
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