Fruit Articles

Aldi topped the first quarter of the new British apple season from October to December 2023, leaving Tesco behind, according to British Apples & Pears Limited (BAPL).

A project that aims to develop a commercially viable system for precisely targeting orchard inputs to specific trees, or even parts of a tree, has been given the go-ahead. The £4.5 million project has been led by Hutchinsons agronomist, Rob Saunders, and partly funded by the commercial partners, Innovate UK and Defra.

The viticulture sector is set to become the latest industry to benefit from the introduction of cutting-edge virtual reality (VR) robotics technology, thanks to a new innovation programme funded by Defra.

Oxbo has expanded its presence and product portfolio through acquiring Westside Equipment Company in Madera, California.

As part of the wind down of all AHDB Horticulture activities, the levy board is transferring the royalties from the commercialisation of two levy-funded research projects.

Soaring cost of production over the past two years has meant that some of the UK’s leading horticulture businesses have shelved any plans for growth, putting the future of the UK’s fruit and vegetable industry at risk.

A cutting-edge new digital forecasting tool to maximise planning and profitability for soft fruit growers will launch to market in 2024 thanks to £2.8m capital raised from private investors, Ceres Agritech and Innovate UK through the investor partnership programme.

After industry lobbying the government has announced horticulture businesses will have access to a fund to help cut their energy bills.

New data suggests the industry is on a knife edge, with double-digit cost of production increases, low returns and low grower confidence.

As UK growers increasingly look for alternatives to conventional fertilisers, deputy editor Sarah Kidby spoke to Jason Colin of Natura Grow, to learn about a unique plant-based fertiliser that is gaining traction on vineyards and orchards in the UK.

The primary purpose of the Growing Kent & Medway (GK&M) programme is to support the plant-based food, drink and horticultural industries in the region, helping them to grow and thrive in the area.

Lidl bought over 3,000 tonnes of new season British apples in October, while Tesco fell short of its 2022 performance, according to sales figures from British Apples & Pears Limited (BAPL).