Sarah Calcutt Executive Chair of The National Fruit Show introduces this year’s show.
To try and sum up in just a few words what is on offer at this, the 89th National Fruit Show on 2&3 November is difficult, as there is simply so much packed into two days and something for everyone in the fruit sector.
The 89th show is set to be the largest for a decade with a fantastic range of exhibitors, in fact, a sell-out show with a waiting list for 2023 now open. With the latest agronomic recommendations, product launches, new machinery, the latest in autonomous systems, robots, drones along with graders and packers we are delighted to welcome a number of significant soft fruit exhibitors for the first time as well as expanding the trade show areas for top fruit growers too.
The 89th show will also host a conference programme delivered by the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers highlighting the work of the awards council seed funding scientific investigation and Nuffield Scholars. We will be joined by Tom Heap who will be speaking about his life in the farming media, Tom will also be participating in the Rural Policy Group debate on Farming and the Environment.
Growing Kent & Medway will be breaking down in a series of talks, the massive subject of sustainable innovation in horticulture. And as well as top fruit, talks will focus on the wider horticulture sector looking at issues in tomatoes, soft fruit and cherries led by NIAB, Thanet Earth, Hutchinsons, University of Greenwich and University of Kent.
As an industry we all know the move towards the development and integration of exciting new technologies, new machinery and equipment, environmentally sustainable growing practices and varieties with greater natural pest and disease resistance, investment in new club varieties, dealing with draught and climate change, government policy, seasonal labour, and wider recruitment issues. All of this will be covered either in talks or by our many exhibitors over the course of the show.
Of course, there wouldn’t be a show without a truly amazing competition display of fruit and this is down to the growers who make the time to select and showcase their finest. And what a year we are expecting, especially for flavour and colour, a feast for the eyes and we would urge you to enter now as there is still time. This of course is ultimately what we are about – a show by growers for growers and putting the very best of British top fruit in front of retail representatives and alerting the national media to the needs of the sector and the issues affecting growers. With Back British Farming day now moved to 2 November you can be assured that we will be the key messages around returns, labour, plant protection and technology.
We also have our excellent dinner with an auction and some fantastic prizes that money simply can’t buy, including a journey under the North Sea, it’s not too late to book tickets
Thank you to all our sponsors, especially Worldwide Fruit, Hutchinsons, N P Seymour, BASF and UKCA Ltd + Isolcell, without whom we couldn’t put on such a fantastic showcase for British fruit.
