Fruit

The annual Orchard and Machinery Day, held in Newent, Gloucestershire, took place in late June, with more than 200 guests in attendance. The event provides a unique opportunity each year for the cider industry to thank those who work so hard growing apples for them and to celebrate the importance of British-grown cider apples. 

One of the UK’s first suppliers of fruit and veg boxes has switched to 100% paper or home compostable packaging – as well as a number of other measures to help protect the planet. Fruit & Vine magazine spoke to Riverford’s head of sustainability Zac Goodall to find out more.

Growers visiting Fruit Focus on 12th July in East Malling, Kent, will be able to explore cutting-edge research and innovation projects, funded to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the fruit sector.

Growing Kent & Medway and Canterbury Christ Church University are joining forces in a new collaborative partnership aimed at connecting horticultural and food and drink businesses with agri-technology specialists to drive research and innovation in the sector.

The International Blackcurrant Conference returned to Herefordshire this year with an inspiring two-day programme featuring talks from industry experts, a presentation on different weed control methods, harvest forecasts and visits to three prominent UK fruit farms.

Although British strawberry season arrived a month later than usual due to the cool spring weather, the slower ripening period means the nation can expect to enjoy bigger and juicier berries this year, experts have said.

Inverness-based fruit and vegetable wholesaler Sky East UK is moving forward with its plans to develop a specialist reactor for converting natural waste into an environmentally friendly soil enhancer, made possible by a £150,000 investment from HSBC UK.

British blueberry season has officially begun, with producers predicting a larger, sweeter crop than ever in 2023.

Additional items have been added to the scheme for 2023, including mulchers for orchards and vineyards to help reduce input costs and improve carbon retention in the soil.

New guidance released by Defra states that farm buyers are now eligible to claim delinked payments on recently purchased land, provided they made a valid BPS claim this year.

Bayer will use its presence at Fruit Focus 2023 to showcase the strength of its portfolio in protecting soft and top fruit crops from the effects of pests and disease, while giving a preview of the products and services being developed for future seasons.

British Berry Growers, which represents 95% of all the UK’s commercial soft fruit growers, is set to form a new research & development board to drive sustainability and efficiency.