Fruit

Growers from the UK and overseas are encouraged to join NIAB’s annual Tree Fruit Day technical webinar, a free-to-attend event featuring the latest research and advice for all those involved in the tree fruit industry.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Great Taste, the Guild of Fine Food is offering 50 emerging micro producers a one-time free entry into the world’s most trusted taste accreditation scheme.

Sally Flanagan, former executive director and long-standing committee member of The East Malling Trust, will be following in the footsteps of Sarah Calcutt as the new chief executive officer of the Marden Fruit Show Society (MFSS).

Fruit & Vine asked Tom Adams (AKA ‘Tom the Apple Man’) to discuss two heritage apple varieties this issue – although choosing just two varieties proved a challenge, as he explains

Agronomist Mike Wainwright of Hortifeeds discusses the importance of managing plant stress in an extreme, unpredictable and constantly evolving climate

Work has begun to develop strawberry and raspberry varieties resistant to spotted wing drosophila (SWD), a key problem pest in soft and stone fruit, with initial results showing promise that a new milestone in fly control may be within reach.

The government has confirmed 45,000 visas for seasonal workers will be available for businesses next year – an uplift of 15,000 compared to what was available in early 2022.

So far unavailable to growers due to high costs, sterile insect technique, an effective and chemical-free method for controlling spotted wing drosophila (SWD), will be launched commercially in 2023 by insect control solutions company BigSis.

Field trials have shown that using ProBandz, a new food bait adjuvant for spotted wing drosophila (SWD) control, is significantly more cost-effective than full foliar sprays while being harmless to pollinators and other beneficial insects.

Canopy is a juicy and crisp apple with a complex flavour profile that not only rivals Granny Smith, but its resistance to scab makes it a better alternative for growers, the variety’s breeder Dalival has claimed.

Keen to help businesses in the fight towards net zero, the innovation hub Growing Kent & Medway (GKM) is offering a number of funding opportunities to horticultural, food and drink enterprises wanting to take sustainability to the next level.

Defra is inviting growers, businesses and researchers to apply for a share of the £12.5 million funding, for projects focused on cutting-edge innovations to boost productivity, reduce labour demands and create more sustainable practices.