The confidence that exists in the future of the English apple industry is set to be in evidence at the National Fruit Show, the industry showcase held at Detling in the south-eastern UK county of Kent on October 20.
Fruition, the country's largest topfruit producer organisation, will unveil plans for a massive planting programme which, with the backing of £4m-worth of investment, is set to bring new varieties to market and expand production of new cultivars already in the ground.
Robert Hinge, chairman of Fruition said the development showed the UK apple industry was in good health. 'It reflects that the industry is not just alive and well, but is taking very positive steps to safeguard its position on the market,' he said.
'Our members will be able to provide more Gala and Braeburn, and build on the demand for Jazz by planting a second significant volume of trees in 2010/11.'
The organisation is also trialling a number of new apple varieties. This winter, the first commercial plantings of another Enza variety, Envy, will be planted following what Mr Hinge describes as 'good feedback' from retail customers.
'We are still looking to improve our current offer on Cox, which is the biggest-selling homegrown dessert apple, by replacing older Cox orchards with higher-coloured clones,' he revealed.
'Modern production is all about producing high consistent yields of quality fruit which taste good, and can command premium prices. I am delighted that our members have the confidence to invest in such a significant programme over such a concentrated period.'
The planting programme, which began in 2009/10, will continue through this winter, meaning that in three years over three-quarters of a million new trees will have been added by Fruition's members.
The impact will be a 15,000-tonne increase in Fruition's total volume, from their current level of 50,000 tonnes.
'Just as significantly,' stresses Robert Balicki, chief executive of marketer Worldwide Fruit, 'fruit from the additional 375ha will reduce reliance on imports during the winter and spring months.'
According to Mr Balicki, the English climate has shown to be well suited to the new varieties.
'We can grow these varieties to a quality that can match any alternative that comes from Europe,' he added. 'We are in the forefront of reshaping the UK industry which will allow us to compete more efficiently in the international marketplace.'
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