This week Fruit Focus was held at Bradbourne House at East Malling
Ironically Fruit Focus nearly always enjoys a warm sunny day. This year the weather was more than warm. coming in the heat wave conditions we have been coping with this summer.
Fruit Focus 2026 is the UK’s premier technical event for the fruit and vine industry, taking place on 8 July 2026 at Bradbourne House, East Malling.
Fruit Focus 2026 marks the 40th anniversary of the event and will feature a renewed focus on technical content tailored to the needs of the entire UK fruit and vine sector, including viticulture. The event provides a platform for knowledge exchange, innovation, and networking, serving the technical, purchasing, and professional development needs of fruit growers.
Bradbourne House and Fruit Forum Show site 2026
Below: left Stuart and right Scott Raffle
The English Apple Man did not attend this year. my mobility issues and the heat, too much of a challenge.
However my son Stuart attended in his role as "New Business Development Executive" with NFU Mutual Sevenoaks and Meopham Branch.
Stuart is gradually replacing me on fruit industry bodies; a member of 'The National Fruit Show' and attends some BAPL meetings.
On Wednesday he met up with Scott Raffle, an old friend of mine at NIAB East Malling.
Scott Raffle is: Senior Knowledge Exchange Manager - East Malling
Scott and The EAM have been 'industry friends' for at least 30 years and I have enjoyed the learning from him and working with him over the years.
Scott's role is to raise the profile of the research and commercial activities at East Malling and to improve collaboration between the researchers and the fruit and wider horticulture industry. This includes the activities of the Growing Kent & Medway programme.
Scott has worked in the UK fruit industry since 1990, initially as a fruit consultant with ADAS, specialising in apple and pear storage and soft fruit production, with a particular interest in Integrated Pest and Disease Management. He has also worked for the levy bodies HDC and AHDB to disseminate the results of their fruit and ornamentals research programmes and to encourage the adoption of new technology by growers.
He uses his knowledge of both research and the industry to ensure that the latest R&D is of relevance to growers and that it can be utilised in commercial practice.
Below: Scott Raffle receives the Royal Horticultural Society 'George Lockie Award at Fruit Focus
At yesterday's Fruit Focus Niab's Scott Raffle was presented with the Royal Horticultural Society George Lockie Award for his Outstanding Contribution to fruit.
Awarded by the RHS Fruit, Vegetable and Herb Expert Group the annual award recognises individuals who are making an outstanding contribution within their plant group.
Well done Scott!
Below a selection of pictures taken by my son Stuart at Fruit Focus 2026
Below: left. Hutchinsons Stand. and right. NP Structures Stand
Below: left. On the Arbor Agri stand a Sprayer on display. and right. Dogtooth Technology
Below: Scenic bridge to the Fruit Focus display area and right. View of NFU Forum Stand at FF
With the very hot sun, the risk of 'sunburn' on apples exposed to the intense sunlight is causing damage, below pictures of sunburn taken recently by growers and sent into BAPL Orchard Watch.
Click on: English Apple Man article high lighting global issues of sun scorch >
That is all for this week
Take care
The English Apple Man