Fruit

Members of NIAB’s new service will be the first to benefit from emerging, innovative research.

The supermarket plans to help over 2,000 of its supplier farms to adopt regenerative farming practices, with practical and financial support.

The government’s five-year seasonal worker scheme will ensure long-term planning for farmers.

Up to £50 million in funding for technology will be available to help reduce reliance on migrant workers.

Six months since the start of the British apple and pear season, British Apples & Pears Limited (BAPL) has analysed which supermarkets have surpassed last year’s performance and which are lagging behind.  

The British Tomato Fortnight campaign is returning this year to promote the humble, delicious, nutritious and responsibly produced British tomato. 

Co-op has become the first UK retailer to announce it is moving to 100% British strawberries for the summer season across its entire own brand range. 

Warmer weather during last week helped deliver more than 150 tonnes of fruit grown in the UK, approximately 375,000 boxes of berries.

British beekeepers and residents have been urged to remain vigilant after an invasive hornet species was recently found on two occasions.

This year’s NIAB Tree Fruit Day saw a range of scientists sharing alternative products and management strategies for tree fruit pests and diseases, as loss of chemistry becomes an increasing challenge. Deputy editor Sarah Kidby reports.

Creating ciders with 100% fruit juice rather than imported concentrates is a point of principle for Dowding’s Apple Juice & Cider, based in Somerset. Deputy editor Sarah Kidby spoke to farm owner Oliver Dowding, on the challenges facing smaller producers, the importance of working with other local businesses, and how the organic farm uses innovative approaches to tackle pest and disease problems.

NIAB has just published its 2024 annual review, following the success of the first publication last year.