BAPL says this week’s workshop is a great opportunity for growers to share best principles on improving efficiency, fruit quality and returns
One of the greatest strengths of the apple and pear business is its growers’ willingness to learn from one another, according to Ali Capper, executive chair of British Apples & Pears.
Capper was speaking ahead of a workshop that aims to spread the knowledge and expertise of five of the UK’s most experienced commercial apple growers, including practical techniques, systems and approaches to deliver a successful harvest.
On 31 July, the BAPL Smart Orchard Harvest Optimisation Grower Workshop will feature an open discussion with James Simpson of Adrian Scripps; Ross Goatham, AC Goatham & Son; Tom Hulme, ACH Farming; Mark Gaskain, Gaskains Ltd and Prime Produce; and Robert Hinge, A Hinge & Sons, covering every stage of harvest planning and delivery.
Topics are set to include:
- Planning labour requirements and picker productivity
- Pre-harvest thinning strategies
- Assessing fruit maturity and harvest timing
- Harvest equipment and technology
- Maintaining fruit quality in the orchard
- Workforce management and supervision
- Digital tools supporting harvest operations
Ahead of the workshop, the five growers have collaborated on two new practical guides for BAPL members:
- Harvest Optimisation: Learning From Five Leading UK Apple Growers – a practical assessment of the businesses’ approach to harvest planning and delivery
- Harvest Optimisation Best Practice Guide – this guide includes ten key recommendations to improve harvest efficiency, fruit quality and workforce management.
“We’ve brought together five highly successful businesses, each with different systems and approaches, to share what works for them in practice,” said Capper. “No two orchards are identical, but there are common principles that can help growers improve efficiency, fruit quality and returns.
“By capturing that knowledge and making it available to BAPL members, we’re helping the whole industry benefit from decades of practical experience.
