The English Apple Man visited some orchards this week to check on bud development....
The warmer weather has brought the apple and pear buds on and this week's warmer weather brings the bud stages closer to last year at the same time. But the forecast is for a cooler few days; My 'gut feeling' is blossom stages for apples and pears will be very similar to 2015.
On Wednesday, on my way back from Hadlow College I popped into Conference pear and Bramley apple orchards.
Below: Bramley rows - and - Bramley buds
Below: Conference pear rows - and - Conference trees
Below: Conference buds here are for the most part at green cluster - and - some 'sporadic' early white bud/blossom showing
Looking back to last year Journal for 1st May 2005
Blackcurrants are on the move with leaf and early signs of flower buds showing
Marden Fruit Show Society AGM
Below: Sarah Calcutt
MFSS - organisers of The National Fruit Show held this year's AGM in the Lecture room at the Animal Management Lecture Theatre, at Hadlow College. As The English Apple Man was unable to attend due to personal health issues, MFSS - Chair Sarah Calcutt sent me a summary of the AGM and Presentations.
MFSS President, The Rt Hon Michael Jack CBE chaired the meeting.
"A well-attended AGM for the National Fruit Show which continues to grow and thrive. Speakers sadly didn't include Martin Redfearn of HSBC who was unfortunately incapacitated by a fall on holiday; the Rt Hon Michael Jack CBE, Society President, was happily able to confirm that the bank has sanctioned £60m of lending to the UK top fruit sector. He emphasised that it was important that all Banks had a good understanding of the needs of a sector and had a long term view of the direction of development and required investment
Speakers
Speakers gave engaging reports on the activity of their organisations - David Long spoke on the work of the NFU Horticultural Board on the National Living Wage, Pensions, the Apprenticeship levy, the fruit & veg pledge and the healthy eating campaign.
Kathleen Kelliher - Team Leader, Horticulture and Potatoes Crops and Horticulture Policy Defra; reported on investment in research for the sector, the development of the British Food unit and their working towards a developed export management plan for UK horticulture.
Below: Adrian Barlow
Adrian Barlow, in his last report as CEO of English Apples and Pears gave an excellent update on the season and the work done by the Love English Apples campaign promoting home grown fruit. He was pleased to confirm that the sell through rate was what was required for good stock management though a greatly challenging season for many growers with some retailers not supporting home grown as well as in previous seasons.
Adrian said there was good evidence that some Supermarkets had taken a good volume of British apples in preference to cheap imports, taking a long term view on the guarantees of quality and safety offered by UK growers.
"An introduction to a year in the life of an apple tree, as a classroom topic."
The final presentation of the day was from Samantha Smith, the Fruit show education officer. A sparky presentation left the audience stunned at the quality and impact that her work has with schools, the endorsements from the various headteachers and group leaders were fulsome in their praise.
For a comprehensive understanding of Sam's work with schools, take a look at the New Teachers Pack
A message from Sam Smith......
To complement the teachers pack, we offer a FREE 1 hour interactive workshop in your
classroom delivered by a dedicated education officer.
Overview:
Children will learn about 'A Year in the Life of an Apple Tree' and how much effort goes into growing this super fruit with our fun hands-on lesson aimed to tickle the taste buds and get the children excited about healthy eating. Linked closely to the KS2 Science curriculum, we will play games, hold a copy of the 'biggest apple in the world', ask questions and try different varieties of apple. And if that wasn't enough, each class will have the opportunity to plant a real apple tree, donated by us, in their school grounds to enjoy and carry on the learning.
A message from Sarah Calcutt.....
The sponsorship from Tesco has meant a great extension to the programme with downloadable teacher packs and classroom materials available which means the programme is now properly available nationwide. The Apple world fruit lesson is available in the south east, delivered by Sam and all schools should get in touch with the fruit show office to book a free lesson.
An Apple A Day
Below: An entry from Fosse Bank School's Newsletter in 2013....
Sam Smith came from Loddington Farm on Monday to deliver a
fantastic 'Apple Workshop' to Year 3 and Year 6. She told them
about the many different varieties around the world and how local
produce is so much fresher as it doesn't have to incur 'air miles' to
arrive in the supermarket. It also included tasting some very delicious
local apples
Below: Robert Oliver
Elections for society officers were successfully completed with Andrew Tinsley becoming the new Vice-Chair of the Society and Charles Dunn successfully elected as a Junior Vice-Chair.
An emotional Robert Oliver stood down as Vice Chair, praised by the President and Chair for the enormous amount of work he has done for the society, showing such dedication to his duty there will have to be two officers to replace him! A fantastic amount was given by society members and supporters towards a gift for Robert - A very deluxe coffee machine and a substantial Graham Clarke picture were very well received.
The English Apple Man endorses the praise for Robert; we have worked closely together, in particular organising 'After Show Events' - he has given so much of his time and enthusiasm to each National Fruit Show and his attention to detail in planning the many very successful 'After Show Events' is legendary. We will all miss his planning and direction, in addition, Robert is a true gentleman.....
"Focusing on rural matters".....
On Wednesday The English Apple Man and fellow members of the Hadlow Rural Focus Press Group met at the Hadlow College 'Rural Regeneration' Centre.
The inspiration of Hadlow College - Press Officer - Pat Crawford who initiated the Rural Focus Press Group in 2012, it brings together press officers and personnel from different rural groups and organisations in order to discuss a variety of topics; find common ground; agree a united approach and then invite a journalist along to a 'question-and-answer' session.......
Our media guest was Tom Pyman from Kent on Sunday and the topic: "Is the work undertaken by the county's farmers and growers understood and valued?
I particularly enjoy being a member of this group; discussing a topic with fellow participants is always a valuable learning curve. Whatever the subject, the understanding is always enhanced by the input of each participant.
The Rural Focus Press Group consists of circa 25 members; attendance varies depending on availability of group members. Pat Crawford sets the agenda, invites a member of the press and Chairs the Focus Group meetings.
This week group participants were Isobel Bretherton - National Farmers Union; Tessa O'Sullivan - Rural Housing Enabler for Action with Communities in Rural Kent; Howard Porter - Tonbridge and Malling Friends of the Earth; Professor Chris Atkinson - University of Greenwich and Paul Boxhall -School Head - Hadlow Rural Community School and 'yours truly - The English apple Man.
Returning to our topic: "Is the work undertaken by the county's farmers and growers understood and valued?
Kent has 85.8% designated as 'rural' - Looking at the topic as a Kent issue, opinion suggested there is an understanding of Kent farmers and horticulturists from the core of the county population, although there is still a significant lack of valuation of the challenges 'farmers & growers' face in the highly competitive global competition.
Among the many successes in Kent: The county produces 60% of all 'home grown' apples & pears, a significant share of UK soft fruit and stone fruit production, in 'Thanet Earth' a state of the art Tomato, Cucumber and Pepper production facility; farm shops and farmers markets are numerous and of high quality - 'discussion on the value of farmers markets' centred on the benefits consumers gain from attending - quality certainly, but also the value of talking directly to the producer........
Kent recognises the value of producers with The Taste of Kent Awards - Produced in Kent have been organising The Taste of Kent Awards since 2004.
Farm Shops gain recognition from The Farm Shop & Deli Awards
Kent has a long standing reputation as 'The Garden of England' and that title (although no longer considered technically accurate) still has a relevance today as it was when first named; The title - dating back to a dish of Kentish cherries which particularly satisfied King Henry VIII and continued back in the days when Hops, Fruit and Vegetables dominated the county and became the major source for London's Markets............
That is all for this week............
Take care
The English Apple Man