The Forums at Fruit Focus 2009 will tackle the downturn in consumer spend, carbon footprinting of Britain’s orchards and adding biopesticides to extend the active ingredient range available to fruit growers.

The forums are sponsored by the NFU and Syngenta Bioline and form part of the UK’s flagship fruit and vine event, which will be held at East Malling Research, Kent, on July 22.

Countering downward consumer spend

Kicking off the forum programme will be Professor David Hughes, emeritus professor of food marketing at Imperial College and a non-executive director of Berry Gardens. He says: “Shopping behaviour has changed with the recession - there is less shopping in premium stores, less eating out, more buying of promotional items and an increased use of discounters in shoppers’ buying mix. There is also an increase in consumers planning and cooking meals at home.”

The spend climate has impacted fresh produce growers in two major ways, he suggests - first, the enormous cost of promotion, which is borne by the producer, not the retailer. Second, the trade down has affected premium offerings, for example organic and premium ranges. However, consumers are buying special treats for consumption at home, which does create a value-added opportunity, particularly for fruit producers.

“Are we saying that this is the end of the organic and premium sectors?” asks Hughes. “Not at all; these times will pass, but what the recession has highlighted is that the fresh produce sector is not good at understanding who buys what produce and why, and we need to do what it takes to put that right.”

Hughes is going to use his forum slot at Fruit Focus to warn that given the market value it would be wholly remiss of fresh produce sector not to take control of its own marketing.

Biopesticides offer another source of actives

Dr Roma Gwynn of UK-based Rationale Biopesticide Strategists will use the forums to debate the future role of biopesticides in extending the range of active ingredients available to fruit growers through biopesticides. She argues that this range of actives could help with the food chain’s quest for a zero-residue future.

Gwynn’s work has been focused on identifying biopesticides which would suit the UK growing market by looking at what active ingredients are available in the UK, the US and Europe and getting appropriate options approved for use in the UK.

Carbon footprinting in orchards

Dr William Wolmer, managing director of Blackmoor Estate in Hampshire, will be discussing the carbon footprint of English orchards by variety and growing system based on work he conducted using South East England Development Agency funding.

“The research has also allowed for the investigation and testing techniques by which top-fruit growers and packers can reduce their energy usage and carbon emissions,” he says.

Prior to taking on the 2,500 acre Blackmoor Estate business in 2005, Wolmer spent 10 years working in rural development in Africa as a research fellow.

Horticulture under the Conservatives

Lord (John) Taylor of Holbeach will speak about how horticulture might fare under the Conservatives. He is the Shadow Minister for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the Lords and is still active in his family bulb-growing and farming business.

Vines to Wines

Alongside the Fruit Forums, viticulturalists representing the dynamic and expanding UK wine industry will converge on Kent for Vines to Wines at Fruit Focus, the technical exhibition dedicated to the UK’s domestic wine industry.

In a forum programme sponsored by English Wine Producers, Sam Linter from Bookers Vineyard, Camilla Bridewell from Vigo Ltd and Julia Trustram Eve from English Wine Producers will explore the domestic wine market, setting up a winery and growing the perfect grape.

The forum content is well timed as the year-on-year growth in vine planting continues, according to figures recently announced by DEFRA on UK wine production and vineyards. The figures, collected after the 2008 harvest, show 1,106 hectares now under vine in the UK, the highest ever recorded, giving a growth of more than 45 per cent in the last four years. Vineyards are also showing a year-on-year increase in number since 2002, with 416 vineyards planted across 3,000 acres and a total of 116 varieties recorded.

For more information go to www.fruitfocus.co.uk

Topics