The 2011 National Fruit Show enjoyed two warm and sunny show days at the Kent Event Centre on 19th and 20th October.
The large exhibition halls were filled with world-class competition fruit and exhibitors from both the UK and Europe.
Agriculture Minister Jim Paice opened the Show on Wednesday 19th and said, “I was pleased to be able to open this year’s National Fruit Show which demonstrated all that is great about the British top fruit industry. The progress that the top fruit growers have made over the past few years in gaining market share and replacing imports is fantastic.
He added, “The Fruit and Vegetable Taskforce set a goal of 50% self sufficiency from British fruits within 5 years: with apples having grown from 24% in 2003 to 37% in 2010 (and rising), it looks like the industry is well on the road to achieving this goal.
Congratulations and we wish you every success in the future.”
Marden Fruit Show Society, organiser of the National Fruit Show is delighted with the success of the Show. Sarah Calcutt, Chair said, “Growers have had a good season and the National Fruit Show is a good barometer for the industry. This year there was a positive and buoyant atmosphere with competition entries up on previous years, exhibitors showcasing more new products than previously and excellent visitor numbers.”
The judging of the National ‘Tastiest Apple’ saw the new variety Rubens take first, second and third prize. The variety bred in Italy in the late 80’s is a cross between Gala and Elstar. The sweet juicy Gala is now the UK’s best selling apple and Elstar is a huge favourite in much of Europe, it has a very distinct crunchy texture and is also very juicy.
The tastiest Ruben was grown by JA & NJ Bardsley at River Farm in Kent. It was owner Nigel Bardsley who travelled to Italy and discovered the apple at a trade fair. Second place went to Rubens grower Clive Gotham from AC Gotham in Sittingbourne, while Simon Mount from Stourmouth, also one of the early growers of Rubens apples, came in third. JA & NJ Bardsley also won the coveted Covent Garden Prize. Their Conference Pear entry was awarded 99 points from a possible 100 and was declared Best in Show. The Bardsley’s also won Class 1 Bramley, Class 2 Bramley, Class 5 Cox’s Orange Pippin or sport 65-70mm and Class 14 Conference Pear.
Newmafruit Farms near Canterbury won Class 3 Kanzi, FW Mansfield & Sons Class 4 Cox’s Orange Pippin or sport 70-75mm and any other dessert. Other winners included R Thomson for Rubens, Simon R Bray Jazz, Loddington Farms Gala and Braeburn, Robert Mitchell Farms for Russet and JA Colthrup & Partners, Cameo.
The pear results saw L Stevens & Sons come first in Class 13 Comice, RR Day and PJD Hall Concorde and Class 16 Any Other Variety was won by JL Baxter & Sons. WB Chambers & Son from Maidstone, excelled in the Raspberry and Blackberry classes gaining first, second and third with raspberries and first and third in class 33 blackberries. FW Mansfield & Sons took first, second and third place with their Strawberry Ever Bearers.
The Great Debate organized by the National Fruit Show had a full audience on the first day of the Show when the Rt. Hon Michael Jack, MFSS President and HSBC Food and Farming advisor asked the question ‘50% of the market share; how do we get there, what might stop us and can we grow the marketplace as we go?’ The panel of industry experts included Hayley Campbell-Gibbons, NFU Chief Advisor for Horticulture and Potatoes, Adrian Barlow, CEO, English Apples and Pears Ltd, Helen Evans, Head of Communications, NCGMA and Mark Lumsdon-Taylor, Director of Finance, Hadlow College.
The esteemed panel concluded that with a good supply chain, adequate workforce, effective marketing and above all grower profitability for re-investment the sector could reach the target of 50% of market share.
It was agreed that the UK produces the best flavour in eating apples and has a superb culinary variety, Bramley. It remains crucial to continue to develop varieties that deliver consumer demands for a fruit with fantastic flavour and great texture. The consumer buying habits need to be monitored and the fruit sector needs to be agile in its response to market demands.
This year the winners of the Bonanza Prize at the National Fruit Show were David and Rita Banfield of Banfield Farm, Horsmonden, Kent. The prize provided by Pro Tech Marketing, is a weekend for two in Prague, the historic capital of the Czech Republic.
In the past the Banfields farmed 174 ha, but the farm is currently growing on a much smaller scale (10 ha) producing apples, pears, plums, cherries, apricots, rhubarb and pumpkins along with a variety of vegetables growing under poly-tunnels covers.
Aurel Voiculescu, Managing Director of Pro Tech Marketing, sponsors of the award said, “We are delighted that David and Rita have won the Bonanza Prize not least because it is the 29th year, that they have entered their farm in the draw. It was lovely to see David and Rita’s excitement after winning the draw and we hope they enjoy their weekend in Prague”
Full details of the 2011 National Fruit Show; www.nationalfruitshow.org.uk
For more information please contact:
Sarah Calcutt, MFSS Chair [email protected] /07767783891
