Crop production specialists Hutchinsons has appointed former Ribena employee Rob Saunders as fruit agronomist with responsibilities for top fruit, berries, hops and vine growers.
Saunders, who will be based with the company’s south east horticultural team, has 27 years experience in the UK fruit sector, which included working as technical support for Ribena’s blackcurrant growers, as part of LucozadeRibenaSuntory (formerly GlaxoSmithKline).
He graduated from Seale-Hayne college before beginning his career as an assistant manager on a top fruit and hop farm in Kent.
Hutchinsons’ horticulture director, Mike Hutchinson said: “Rob comes to us with a great deal of expertise and experience and he will be an impressive addition to our already effective horticultural team.
“As a company we offer our fruit growers the best service and the best advice across the whole crop, not just crop protection but cultural, biological and nutritional solutions. I am confident that Rob will do just this and we welcome him into the team.”
Saunders said the adoption of more productive varieties and the ever-changing legislative environment means the need for reliable agronomic support has never been greater.
“I am particularly looking forward to working with growers across a range of horticultural crops, always with the objective of finding cost effective solutions that will result in crops with higher yields and the right quality attributes,” he said.
The news comes amid further commitment by Hutchinsons to the Kent region – it has constructed a new depot, and offices, near Canterbury, which is set to open in Autumn.
“I am delighted to be joining Hutchinsons, as they are a well-respected business with a focus on agronomy. It’s also a very exciting time, with all the new technology they are able to offer fruit growers,” Saunders added.
No comments yet