R&D Showcase along the Niab Research Tours Leading
We are the UK manufacturer for bespoke growing systems for raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries tabletops, and heavy duty commercial polytunnels. We also manufacture high tech greenhouses with full ridge ventilation, rain water harvesting and climate control integration.
Latest industry research to feature at Fruit Focus 2025..
These informative sessions will give an update on key industry topics.
Interesting articles about products and companies attending the show.
Map
The tours highlight and share the impressive scope of research at Niab at East Malling.
Afternoon fruit and wine networking reception.
List of companies attending along with contact details.
Neither Fruit Focus nor South East Farmer magazine can accept any responsibility for the content of advertisements appearing in this programme. Content was correct at the time of going to
Welcome to Fruit Focus 2025
By Alli McEntyre, Event Director, Fruit
Focus
Annually, the team at Fruit Focus aims to bring together leading experts, top industry suppliers and UK-based fruit growers for a day of knowledge exchange, professional development and networking.
We invite you to join the NFU’s morning seminar at 10:00 in the NFU Fruit Forum, How a national Food Strategy can deliver horticulture sector growth. With ambitious projects underway on farming profitability, land use, and a food strategy, hear from industry speakers about the opportunities for the fresh produce sector to secure political backing to enable and drive growth.
At 11:00, NFU presents their second seminar of the day, Seasonal Labour costs – what next for the Employer Pays Principle? The publication of the Employer Pays Principle feasibility study in June will bring a sharp focus on worker costs within the Seasonal Worker Scheme. What will this mean for
growers in the UK now and in the future? We will hear the perspectives from the NFU, retailers and a labour provider and discuss how the industry aims to work together to deliver a sustainable and effective scheme for the long term.
Another programme highlight in the morning series is a seminar presented by Tristan Fischer, Founder and Group CEO of Fischer Farms, entitled Climate-controlled agriculture offers fruit growers powerful tools to enhance productivity, extend growing seasons, and mitigate environmental risks. Join Tristan and learn more about the advanced systems creating optimal growing conditions regardless of external weather, providing significant advantages for modern fruit production.
In addition to the main seminars outlined above, speakers will cover technical topics throughout the day including IPM, new
protection methods and chemistry, the latest biostimulants and more.
Join one of many Niab research tours throughout the day and be guided by Niab researchers presenting on topics from hoverflies to control aphids to vertical farming of strawberries. Niab research tours will leave from the meeting point near to the Niab stand. The full schedule of tours and seminars can be found on pages 32 and 33.
Fruit Focus exhibitors are leaders in the field so please do take plentiful time throughout the day to visit with exhibitors across a wide range of service and product categories, from glasshouses and polytunnels to labour and recruitment.
The Fruit Focus team is so pleased to have you at the event and are looking forward to a great day in the sunshine!
Partners and Sponsors
Welcome from Latest industry research to feature at Fruit Focus 2025.
Visitors to Fruit Focus 2025 will be among the first to see the most up to date research and innovations from Niab.
The specialist one-day event will bring together more than 1,500 visitors and over 100 exhibitors from the fresh fruit sector and wine making/viticulture at Niab’s East Malling site in Kent on 9 July.
There will be plenty of opportunities for networking and exchanging knowledge with a key feature of the event being the popular Niab Research Tours, which include visits to the Produce Quality Centre, Research Vineyard and Plum Research Orchard.
“All of the information presented at each of the tours will be new to this year’s event,” says Scott Raffle, knowledge exchange manager at Niab. “In the case of the Research Vineyard and Plum Research tours, visitors
have had the opportunity to visit these in previous years, but we will be presenting information from research projects that are either new or results that have not been presented before.”
The Niab/Growing Kent and Medway Fruit Research tour will share data about new projects not previously covered at Fruit Focus and will highlight the important work being done.
“This includes results on projects to control earwigs in strawberries, to better understand the invasive pest – the brown marmorated stink bug, and a project to develop non-invasive disease detection in cherry as well as methods to treat strawberries to improve their shelf-life. We will also present the latest information on coir recycling from used strawberry and raspberry crops,” adds Mr Raffle.
Other topics covered will include the Precision Orchard Management for the Environment (POME) project, which is developing methods of improving control of pests and diseases in apple while the Flythrive project is investigating the use of hoverflies for aphid control in strawberries.
Strawberry vertical farming will also be showcased for the first time to explain the work Niab is doing to maximise yield potentials.
And in the Research Hour at the NFU Forum, there will be an opportunity to discuss and debate key issues, challenges and
CPD points
developments within the fruit industry.
“The talk about raspberry propagation will provide some interesting results about how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi have enhanced the performance of raspberry canes,” says Mr Raffle.
“The soft fruit genetic improvement talk will explain how Niab, ADAS and The James Hutton Institute scientists are developing new breeding tools that can be used by commercial breeding programmes. While the POME project will highlight how modern technology is being adopted to help growers to better manage their orchards for the environment.”
BASIS members will have the opportunity to collect six BASIS CPD points for attending Fruit Focus 2025. To collect two points, members should head to the BASIS stand and present their membership card for scanning. Those without a card can simply fill in a form with their details. After having your card scanned, you can visit Fruit Focus exhibitors, seminars and tours to pick up an additional four points for a total of six points.
Visit with exhibitors including: ADAS, Agri Management Solutions, Biobest UK, Fargro, Hortifeeds, James Hutton Ltd, Koppert, Netafim and UK Agri-Tech Centres to earn points.
Speakers
Lee Abbey NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Chief Adviser
Dr Dhurgham Al-Karawi Chief Technology Officer Russell IPM
Jude Bennison Senior Research Entomologist ADAS
Aurélie Bovi Innovation Sector Lead UK Agritech Centre
Richard Colgan Produce Quality Centre, NRI, University of Greenwich
Chris Curran Managing Director Sharpak Aylesham Ltd
Tristan Fischer Founder and Group CEO Fischer Farms
Andrew Gladman Horticultural Consultant (Entomology) ADAS
Stuart Jackson Technical Manager UPL
James Mallick Director Fruitful Jobs
Nick Marston Chair British Berry Growers
Rihem Moujahed Head of Pheromones Solutions Russell IPM
Chris Newenham Joint Managing Director Wilkin and Sons
Hannah Newcomb Co-CEO Stronger Together
Tom Price Employment and Skills Policy Adviser NFU
Dr Louisa Robinson-Boyer Post - doctoral researcher Niab EMR
James Simpson Managing Director British Apples and Pears Board
Roland Sweijen Product Lead Strawberry Limgroup
Xiangming Xu Director of Research Niab
Mike Wainwright Agronomist Hortifeeds
Georgina Wallis Head of Environmental Services Hutchinsons
Francis Wamonje Research Leader - Entomology Niab
Charles Whitfield Niab
09:00 - 09:20
Fruit Forums
Charming the thrips from the flowers Thrips are one of the most serious pests of strawberry and in recent years, species other than western flower thrips have been causing significant damage to fruit. Biological control of these other thrips species is proving more challenging. These thrips species fly into and damage fruit as adults, circumventing control by predatory mites such as Neoseiulus cucumeris which only eat thrips larvae. These migrations also often occur early in the season before Orius can establish. New approaches are therefore required to control these migrations of adult thrips.
• Jude Bennison, Senior Research Entomologist – ADAS
• Andrew Gladman, Horticultural Consultant (Entomology) – ADAS
09:20 - 10:00
Climate-controlled agriculture for fruit growers
Climate-controlled agriculture offers fruit growers powerful tools to enhance productivity, extend growing seasons, and mitigate environmental risks. These advanced systems create optimal growing conditions regardless of external weather, providing significant advantages for modern fruit production.
• Tristan Fischer, Founder and Group CEO –Fischer Farms
10:00 - 11:00
How a national Food Strategy can deliver horticulture sector growth
With ambitious government projects underway on farming profitability, land use, and a food strategy, hear from industry speakers about the opportunities for the fresh produce sector to secure political backing to enable and drive growth.
• Lee Abbey, Chief Adviser –NFU Horticulture and Potatoes
• Martin Emmett, Chair –NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board
• Nick Marston, Chair –British Berry Growers
• James Simpson –British Apples and Pears Board
11:00 - 11:45
Seasonal labour costs – what next for the Employer Pays Principle?
The publication of the Employer Pays Principle feasibility study in June will bring a sharp focus on worker costs within the Seasonal Worker Scheme. What will this mean for growers in the UK now and in the future? We will hear the perspectives from the NFU, retailers and a labour provider and discuss how the industry aims to work together to deliver a sustainable and effective scheme for the long term.
• Lee Abbey, Chief Adviser –NFU Horticulture and Potatoes
• Tom Price, Employment and Skills Policy Adviser at NFU - NFU
• Hannah Newcomb, Co-CEO –Stronger Together
• James Mallick, Director – Fruitful Jobs
11:45 - 12:00
Presentation of prizes by the Upper Warden of the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers
Presentation of prizes by the Upper Warden of the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers
Chris Newenham, to the winners of the David Hohnen and Student Essay prizes
• Chris Newenham, Joint Managing Director –Wilkin and Sons
12:00 - 13:00
Niab Research Hour
Niab East Malling is a hub for the leading fruit research and development happening in the UK.
This seminar will showcase the latest including:
– Improving raspberry propagation presented by Louisa Robinson-Boyer, Niab
– Brown marmorated stink bug – a new pest of fruit crops presented by Francis Wamonje, Niab
– Managing cool chain of strawberry for improved shelf-life presented by Richard Colgan, University of Greenwich
– Soft fruit genetic improvement network presented by Xiangming Xu, Niab
– Precision orchard management for the environment (POME) presented by Charles Whitfield, Niab
• Francis Wamonje, Research LeaderEntomology – Niab
• Richard Colgan – Produce Quality Centre, NRI, University of Greenwich
• Xiangming Xu, Director of Research – Niab
• Dr Louisa Robinson-Boyer, Post-doctoral researcher – Niab EMR
• Charles Whitfield – Niab
13:00 - 13:20
Technical introduction to Laminarin for the control of disease in fruit crops
The technical merits and efficacy of laminarin a new active for the control of diseases in top fruit and soft fruit.
• Stuart Jackson, Technical Manager – UPL
13:20 - 13:40
Balancing the demands of modern packaging for fresh produce
This seminar will discuss the complex balancing act that packaging needs to perform—meeting multiple, sometimes competing demands including efficiency, sustainability, cost control, consumer expectations while still fulfilling its core function of protecting the product.
• Chris Curran, Managing Director –Sharpak Aylesham Ltd
13:40 - 14:00
Benefits of high quality Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed extracts in fruit production
Join us for an in-depth seminar exploring the powerful role of Ascophyllum nodosum highquality seaweed extracts in enhancing fruit production. This session will highlight how seaweed-based biostimulants can improve plant health, increase yield, and boost fruit quality through natural, sustainable means. Attendees will gain insights into the science behind seaweed extracts, their mechanisms of action, and their impact on abiotic stress tolerance, flowering, and fruit set. Whether you’re a grower, agronomist, or industry professional, this seminar will provide practical knowledge and tools to integrate seaweed extracts effectively into modern fruit
14:00 - 14:20
An eco-monitoring App for counting and identifying Spotted Wing Drosophila, Thrips, and Whitefly on sticky traps
Join this seminar to learn about AI-powered insect monitoring for smart farms. This eco-monitoring app utilises advanced artificial intelligence technologies to automatically count and identify Spotted Wing Drosophila, thrips, and Whitefly on sticky traps. This ecosystem is designed for the efficient and accurate monitoring of different sizes of farms to ensure early detection, effective pest management, and minimise the need for manual labour and resources. This innovative app helps identify pest infestations early, enabling quick and targeted control measures and providing valuable insights into pest activity and trends.
• Dhurgham Al Karawi, Chief Technology Officer – Russell IPM
With over 100 years of experience, we support growers with high-quality substrates that deliver consistent results. Whether you’re looking to improve yield, quality or reliability, our team is here to help! Feel free to visit us at stand 10!
T +316 46428985
sales@legrogroup.com
14:20 - 15:00
Innovation, precision, automation and sustainability
This dynamic panel session explores the present and future of agri-tech. The UK AgriTech Centre will highlight some of the impactful innovations it has supported across the sector and how they can contribute to better yields, before sharing its 10-year ambitions for horticultural innovation - co-developed with stakeholders to address real-world challenges and foster a more systematic approach.
• Aurélie Bovi, Innovation Sector Lead –UK Agritech Centre
15:00 - 15:20
Balancing horticulture and environment for supply chain compliance
In today’s dynamic agricultural landscape, the fruit supply chain faces increasing pressure to meet regulatory, environmental, and consumer-driven standards. This seminar explores the intersection of horticultural practices and environmental stewardship, emphasizing the evolving nature of compliance across local, national, and global markets.
Attendees will gain insights into how growers, suppliers, and distributors can navigate environmental regulations, sustainability certifications, and food safety protocols—while maintaining productivity and profitability. Key discussions will include integrated pest management, water and soil conservation, biodiversity, carbon footprints, and traceability systems.
• Georgina Wallis, Head of Environmental Services – Hutchinsons
15:20 - 15:40
Exploring the future of F1 Hybrid strawberries
In this presentation, Limgroup will introduce its innovative work with F1 Hybrid strawberries. We will outline the key benefits of hybrid varieties, explain how they are propagated, and explore the opportunities they offer for the future of strawberry cultivation. Special attention will be given to the role of different plant types and how they fit into various growing systems. The session will conclude with time for questions and the exchange of insights.
• Roland Sweijen, Product Lead Strawberry –Limgroup
15:40 - 16:00
Pheromone-based monitoring system for the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys
Join this seminar to explore Russell IPM’s pheromone monitoring system of Halyomorpha halys, an invasive pest emerging in the UK. Halyomorpha halys also known as the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is a serious and polyphagous pest native to Asia but spreading globally with serious impacts on agricultural productivity. The adult bugs were first recorded in the UK in 2018 in South-East England in the wild, and the juvenile stages were detected for the first time in 2024.
The insect poses a threat to UK horticulture as it can feed on and damage a wide range of plant species, including soft fruit, ornamentals, field vegetables and tree fruit. Additionally, during autumn, the pest may invade homes, creating nuisance issues for residents.
Implementing an effective system for both early detection and monitoring for this pest is important. It allows interventions while pest populations are still at low or moderate levels and manage the pest effectively when it is established. To meet these needs, Russell IPM has developed a cost-effective pheromone system, specifically designed to detect and monitor BMSB in both agricultural and residential environments.
• Rihem Moujahed, Head of Pheromones
Solutions – Russell IPM
10-11 June 2026
DIDDLY SQUAT FARM
THE UK’S FLAGSHIP ARABLE EVENT DRIVING KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION
From seeds to sprayers, crop varieties to cutting-edge equipment, and fertiliser to finance, Cereals offers a complete one-stop solution.
Explore live demonstrations and dedicated zones for agronomy, technology, machinery, business, education and regenerative farming practices – all designed to help you grow your business and your crops.
25k+ VISITORS 550+ EXHIBITORS
80+ SPEAKERS
Top Seal Punnets
Hand & Machine
Erect Boxes
Palletisation Items
PYO Baskets
Paper Punnets
Pulp Punnets
Bespoke packaging built for the job
With more than four decades of experience in the fresh produce industry, Produce Packaging is looking forward to returning to Fruit Focus this year. As long-standing suppliers to growers, packers and retailers, Produce Packaging understands the challenges of getting produce from field to shelf and is here to help with practical, reliable packaging solutions that deliver.
Stand 606 will be showcasing the latest additions to the range, including our EverGrow® top seal paper punnet, a lightweight, fully recyclable option designed for excellent shelf appeal and efficient packing. Developed with both presentation and practicality in mind, EverGrow® is a
great choice for those exploring fibre-based printable formats.
The team will also be highlighting its growing capabilities in bespoke design and print, helping customers create packaging tailored to their brand and market. Whether it’s recyclable transit packaging, printed retail packs or something completely new, Produce Packaging’s experienced team will be on hand to offer advice and ideas.
Fruit Focus is always a great opportunity to reconnect with customers and talk through what’s coming next. Visitors reviewing their current packaging or exploring future options should talk to Produce Packaging at stand 606.
Plant the seeds of success
For anyone who lives in the South East and is interested in studying a rural or landbased subject, the answer might be right on the doorstep.
Hadlow College is Kent’s only rural and landbased college and offers courses covering a range of areas including agriculture, horticulture, gardening, agricultural engineering, aquaculture and fisheries management, equine, animal management and floristry.
Set in the beautiful surroundings of a large, managed estate that includes over 265 acres of prime arable land, the college is renowned for its cutting-edge facilities.
An example of this is the Thanet Earth Centre of Excellence @ Hadlow College, which was officially opened last year. Based at the college’s state-of-the-art glasshouse, this is the UK’s first centre of excellence in greenhouse growing and aims to inspire and train the next generation of UK commercial horticulturists.
For those living further afield, the college also offers residential accommodation for students who wish to live on-site. This accommodation was judged Outstanding by Ofsted across all categories at its most recent inspection in June 2024.
To find out more and see these top-class facilities first hand, attend the open morning on Saturday 15 November.
To register visit www.hadlow.ac.uk.
Three of the best Italian manufacturers
Arbor Agri is proud to represent three of the best manufacturers in Italy in the fruit and vineyard sector.
CIMA is a sprayer and duster manufacturer founded in 1974 which pioneered the Venturi sprayers, which offer fantastic coverage, much reduced water requirement and a phenomenal choice of spray heads that enable the spray to be directed at all the critical locations. A full range of electronic aids is available to help users set the machine up and report on its progress.
Fischer has been manufacturing rotary mowers since 1956 and offers a sturdy range
covering all mowing requirements, from an impressive 8.7 metre cutting width down to variable width mowers with auto breakback as low as 95 cm wide for in-tunnel work.
Seppi M manufactures flail mower and forestry mulchers and is well established in the supply of flail mowers for pruning and mulching. The Seppi M machines are ideal for root tilling and whole tree mulching, stone crushing, stump grinding and incorporating any woody material.
Arboragri – specialist supplier to the fruit, forestry, vineyard and amenity markets – is on stand 402 at Fruit Focus.
Advanced agronomy
Services
Healthy Soils
Advanced Agronomy
You have a question, we have the answer
Agroecology Services
Farm Business Consultancy Nutrition
Digital Soil Mapping
Digital
• Tools in Omnia to ease every decision
TerraMap
• The most accurate soil mapping system
Healthy Soils
• Soil improvement strategies
Environmental Services
• Benefit from schemes and advice
Farm Business Consultancy
• Maximise business performance
Agroecology Services
• Practical, sustainable farming techniques
See the difference for yourself
Carbon Services
• Understand and manage your farm’s Carbon Varieties
• Nursery stock and varieties for your situation
Nutrition
• Optimise for yield and performance
Helping growers navigate new challenges
The return of Hutchinsons to this year’s Fruit Focus demonstrates the company’s ongoing commitment to the soft fruit and rapidly growing vineyard sectors.
It provides an ideal opportunity to learn about the specialist environmental, soils and digital services teams that support Hutchinsons agronomists as the demands on producers increase from many angles.
“Increasing labour costs, changes to the portfolio of products available and the need to ensure everything is documented and recorded are just some of those challenges,” said Phil Carpenter, regional director, horticulture.
“Compliance audits are an annual feature of growers’ calendars, with the associated
workload. Talking to our teams about easy data capture and retrieval to support a protocol audit, or for analysis, could be time well spent.”
Visitors to stand 608 will also be able to learn about the latest approved products exclusive to Hutchinsons, and tools, such as Omnia and class-leading Terramap high-definition soil scanning, which are increasingly being used within the fruit and vine sectors.
There will also be an opportunity to discuss the various Innovate UK projects that Hutchinsons is involved with, including the development of a real-time spore detection system, while head of environmental services Georgina Wallis will be speaking in the seminar tent.
High quality specialist plant nutrition
Hortifeeds, which will be on stand 504 at Fruit Focus, produces high quality specialist plant nutrition products, manufactured in the UK.
Hortifeeds’ specialist fertilisers and biostimulant products support crops through every stage of development. The wide range includes liquid, water-soluble and granular fertilisers suitable for any growing situation.
LEADING PRODUCTS
• HortiMix – A range of water-soluble fertilisers for soft-fruit crops grown in all substrates.
• HortiBoost – The complete all-round biostimulant, with 20 essential aminoacids, humic acid complex, seaweed and major and minor nutrients.
• HortiHydrate Bio – A high-performance wetting agent formulated from a unique blend of sustainable ingredients.
• AmētrosTM – Powered by CaT TM technology, AmētrosTM leads the market for optimisation and distribution of calcium.
• HortiPhyte – Highly mobile phosphite fertiliser that increases crop resilience and improves rooting and nutrient uptake.
• Glenside Marinure and Marinure Extra – High quality seaweed products to boost stress resilience and crop quality.
• HortiStar 21% Si – Fast-acting silicon fertiliser which enhances plant defences and increases resilience to stress, pests and pathogens.
AT THE SHOW
Look out for Hortifeeds’ NFU Fruit Forum presentation at 13:40 on the benefits of highquality Ascophyllum seaweed extracts in fruit production.
Follow the BASIS knowledge trail and claim continuing professional development (CPD) points at our stand.
For a comprehensive guide to the company’s products visit www.hortifeeds.co.uk
Organic-certified soft fruit
Russell IPM and Russell BioSolutions are ready to showcase integrated pest management solutions tailored to excel in pest management, productivity and quality solutions to meet increasing supermarket and consumer standards.
Visit stand 12 to discover an extensive range of high-quality, organic-certified soft fruit protection products and solutions, together with guidance and support.
Russell IPM and Russell BioSolutions will be featuring a range of exciting new spotted wing drosophila (SWD) products, including TruePest, an AI-based smart tool for monitoring pest populations on the farm, identifying and counting insects in seconds. Also featured will be the new Thripnok System, a kit comprising specially formulated gel attractants and newly designed sticky
boards to maximise trap catch of thrips and reduce bycatch of non-targets.
Speaker Dr Dhurgham Al-Karawi, chief technology officer at Russell IPM, will provide essential information on TruePest and discuss the advantages of using AI for informed and sustainable decision-making against pests such as SWD. He will be joined by Dr Rihem Moujahed, head of pheromone solutions at Russell IPM, who will inform growers about the company’s pheromone monitoring systems against Halyomorpha halys, a highly damaging and invasive pest emerging in the UK.
Visit the stand to explore how Russell IPM, Russell BioSolutions and Russell IOT are leading the way in innovative, sustainable agriculture solutions.
Innovations and ideas
The fruit sector is at the cutting-edge of food production, and both growers and processors can learn about the latest innovations at Fruit Focus 2025.
Held at Niab’s world-class East Malling Research Station in Kent on 9 July, the event will showcase new technology as well as hosting working machinery demonstrations and sharing agronomic advice and business information.
Bringing together more than 1,500 visitors and over 100 exhibitors from the fresh fruit sector and wine making/viticulture, the show will allow people in the industry to connect with leading product and service providers, alongside networking and exchanging knowledge.
“Niab is once again delighted to be hosting Fruit Focus at our East Malling site,” says Scott Raffle, Knowledge Exchange Manager at Niab. “It allows everyone to visit the UK’s longest established fruit research centre to learn more about the work we are doing to support the industry.”
There will be a wide variety of Niab specialist research tours taking place throughout the day, including visits to the Produce Quality Centre, Research Vineyard and Plum Research Orchard, says Scott. “There will also be tours to find out about our research on precision orchard management and the use of hoverflies for aphid control.” A special tour of the Niab stand will inform visitors of research into use of bait sprays for pest control, coir recycling, brown marmorated stink bug monitoring and strawberry decontamination to improve shelf-life.
“This will be the first year that visitors will have the chance to visit our growth rooms
to learn more about how our crop scientists are working to produce higher yields of strawberries with fewer inputs (using vertical farming systems) to improve sustainability of production. We will also exhibit a new system of non-invasive disease detection in cherries.”
Another research tour will include presentations into improving raspberry propagation, genetic research to support commercial soft fruit breeding programmes, and managing the strawberry cool-chain, he adds.
Once again, the popular NFU Fruit Forum will provide an opportunity to discuss and debate key issues, challenges and developments within the fruit industry. And for those looking out for the latest innovations, live demonstrations will include autonomous equipment and robotics to ease
labour issues and improve fruit quality.
The opportunity to catch up with friends and colleagues, as well as connect with new industry contacts at the afternoon networking reception, should not be missed. It will be held on the lawn near NP Seymour’s stand between 3pm and 5pm, offering a selection of British wine, fruit and cheese, plus music by special guest, Irie J.
For those looking to earn CPD points, there will be the chance to collect BASIS points throughout the event. Not only will those registered with the organisations collect six points for attending Fruit Focus, but two points can be allocated by presenting membership cards at the relevant stand, with further points collected through the Knowledge Trails.
Improved efficiencies and environmental impact
Improved efficiencies and reduced environmental impact are two key targets in the fruit sector – and visitors to Fruit Focus 2025 will be able to take away top tips and innovations in both areas.
The specialist one-day event at Niab’s cuttingedge East Malling Research Station in Kent on 9 July gives fruit growers and processors the chance to explore the latest innovations and science-based advice.
Crop production business Hutchinsons will have its horticulture and specialist support teams on-hand to offer the latest thinking around how to maximise soil health and yields in the soft fruit and vineyard sectors. “The event provides an ideal opportunity to learn more about the specialist environmental, soils, and digital services teams that support our
agronomists as the demands on producers increase from many angles,” says Hutchinsons director Mike Hutchinson.
“We have also expanded these teams, reflecting growers’ needs to better understand soils, maximise production, and meet tighter environmental requirements, or tap into new schemes.”
Phil Carpenter, Hutchinsons’ regional director in horticulture, adds: “Growers are challenged by increasing labour costs, ongoing changes to the portfolio of products they have available, and the need to ensure everything is documented and recorded. Compliance audits are an annual feature of growers’ calendars, with the associated workload. Visiting Fruit Focus and talking to our teams about easy data capture and retrieval for supporting a protocol audit, or for analysis, could be time well spent.”
For the latest innovations in packaging, Sharpak will be showcasing its new product SharpTek; a lightweight, padless, fully recyclable mono-material tray for delicate berries, which cuts packaging weight by 17%. It is designed to protect and cushion delicate berries without the use of glued absorbent pads. This represents a major stride in sustainability, eradicating hundreds of tonnes of packaging from the supply chain.
There will also be a wealth of exhibitors attending from overseas, including from the Netherlands, France, Italy and Spain. Spanish firm J. Huete Greenhouses will be profiling its new one-hectare multi-tunnel greenhouse, which is about to be built in Japan for hydroponic lettuce cultivation.
This project features Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) gutters as a production system, allowing a steady flow of nutrients to plant roots, helping them to grow quickly and healthy. It represents a significant advance in agricultural production technology, combining a robust structural design with advanced technological solutions for climate control and automation, all adapted to local requirements and regulations.
There will also be the chance to explore the benefits of enriched CO2 in greenhouses with Nippon Gases. In the UK and Ireland, the company sources CO2 as a by-product from bioethanol fuel and ammonia production, using it to increase the concentration of CO2 in the air to optimise plant growth.
Nippon Gases provides the infrastructure
required for CO2 enrichment, which includes installing liquid CO2 storage tanks at customer sites. The CO2 is vaporised and injected into the greenhouse atmosphere, where it helps improve plant metabolic activity, increase final yields, and enhance plant resilience.
Mark Dziuba, commercial manager in the UK and Ireland, explains the process in more detail: “The glasshouse controls how it injects the CO2 into the atmosphere, depending on factors like the time of year, whether the ventilation is open or closed, and whether it’s sunny, daytime or nighttime, etc.
“By using CO2 enrichment you are effectively giving the plants the best environment in which to grow, increasing productivity and yields with a stronger, more resilient plant.”
Research Tours
Flythrive Project (Hoverflies for aphid control)
With few conventional aphicides left to control aphids in soft fruit crops, reliable alternative natural control methods are desperately required. Previous studies have shown that hoverflies can make a significant contribution to aphid control under protection with a single larva able to consume hundreds of aphids. Find out how this Innovate UK project is testing and developing bespoke native hoverfly species blends to control key aphid pests.
• Sarah Arnold, Applied Entomology Researcher - Niab
Strawberry Vertical Farming Research
In controlled growth rooms, Niab has demonstrated that yields of everbearer strawberries can be more than doubled when exposing plants to optimum light, temperature and humidity over a period of 12 months. Join this tour to learn more about these results and how Niab is now exploring innovative approaches to vertical farming of strawberry which aims to enhance productivity, optimise resource use, and improve profitability for UK TCEA fruit businesses.
• Dr Mark Else, Head of Crop Science and Production Systems – Niab
• Katia Zacharaki, Total Controlled Environment Agriculture (TCEA) Soft Fruit Specialist – Niab
Produce Quality Centre
With increasing demand for high fruit quality over an extended season, it is become more important than ever for growers and marketing groups to find ways of storing fruit in perfect condition for longer. Learn about some of the latest innovations in fruit storage including results of Growing Kent & Medway funded projects to extend the storage life of cherries and to improve the energy efficiency of apple cold stores without compromising the quality of the fruit.
• Richard Colgan – Produce Quality Centre, NRI, University of Greenwich
Niab/Growing Kent & Medway Fruit Research
NIAB is working with several industry partners to understand if growers are achieving complete levels of pollination to maximise nutrition and shelf-life in protected strawberry. Find out how a new acoustic detection method is counting functional groups of insects and whether it will allow growers to detect areas of high and low pollination. New tools are also being assessed to direct insects from areas of high to low pollination.
• Scott Raffle, Senior Knowledge Exchange Manager - East Malling – Niab
POME Project (Precision orchard management for the environment)
A previous project developed a prototype orchard ‘Precision Variable Rate Spray’ system that takes account of tree size and applies a measured volume of spray to match the canopy size of individual trees, thereby reducing overall spray use. Find out how this new Innovate UK project will develop techniques to quantify canopy density, fruit load and presence of pests and diseases, and calculate yield estimates and prescription maps to manage tree growth, crop load and spray application.
• Charles Whitfield - Niab
Research Tour Schedule
Research Vineyard
Niab is supporting the expanding UK grape industry through its research vineyard. Learn more about the results of a project examining the impact of different groundcover management practices on soil health, and a project that is employing satellite imaging and machine learning artificial intelligence, to accurately detect and predict early infection by Botrytis, powdery and downy mildew to replace inefficient methods of monitoring.
• Belinda Kemp, Group Leader - Viticulture, Oenology & the Wine Innovation Centre –Niab
Plum Research
Following the conclusion of the Niab Plum Demonstration Centre in March, Niab secured Innovate UK funding to work with some of the Centre funders to develop sensor-based precision fertigation of stone fruit crops. Visit the trial site to learn more about the early work in this project which aims to lower inputs and emission, and improve production efficiency of plums
• Dr Mark Else, Head of Crop Science and Production Systems – Niab
-11:00
10:00 -11:00
-15:00
-15:00
Project (Hoverflies for aphid control) 14:30 -15:30
-15:30
Latest machinery
See the latest in machinery, robotics and automation at Fruit Focus 2025. It is the perfect place to find the latest technologies in action. Exhibitors are on hand to discuss machinery and equipment requirements, allowing visitors to make the right investment for their business.
Afternoon networking
As part of your entry to Fruit Focus, you are invited to afternoon networking with colleagues and friends. The afternoon networking at Fruit Focus 2025 will be held from 3-5pm on the lawn near NP Seymour’s stand.
Wrap up your day with a seat in the sunshine, a selection of British wine, fruit and cheese plus music by special guest, Irie J!
Exhibitors
24
ADAS HORTICULTURE
MAP-MARKER-ALT Spring Lodge, 172 Chester Road, Helsby, Cheshire WA6 0AR
UNITED KINGDOM
phone-alt 0333 0142950 ENVELOPE enquiries@adas.co.uk tv www.adas.co.uk
UNITED KINGDOM phone-alt 01553 760011 ENVELOPE horticulture@omex.com tv www.omex.com
612
ONEPAY
MAP-MARKER-ALT Mayfield House, Lower Railway Road, Ilkley, West Yorkshire LS29 8FL UNITED KINGDOM
phone-alt 0113 320 1900 ENVELOPE sales@onepay.co.uk tv www.onepay.co.uk/business
624
PELEMIX LTD
MAP-MARKER-ALT Atir Yeda St 9, Kefar Sava 4464309 ISRAEL
phone-alt 009728 6727290 ENVELOPE info-coco@pelemix.comk tv www.pelemix.com
213
PLANTENKWEKERIJ DE KEMP B.V.
MAP-MARKER-ALT Kempweg 15, Meterik 5964 ND THE NETHERLANDS
phone-alt 003177 398 2430 ENVELOPE sales@dekemp.nl tv www.dekemp.nl
108
PLANTEX UK
MAP-MARKER-ALT Howletts Barn, Woolton Farm, Bekesbourne Lane, Canterbury, Kent CT4 6EJ UNITED KINGDOM
phone-alt 01304 849205 ENVELOPE sales@plantexuk.com tv www.plantexuk.com
606
PRODUCE PACKAGING
MAP-MARKER-ALT Unit 7-10, Wheelbarrow Park, Pattenden Lane, Marden, Tonbridge, Kent TN12 9QJ UNITED KINGDOM phone-alt 01622 831423 ENVELOPE info@producepackaging.co.uk tv www.producepackaging.co.uk
UNITED KINGDOM phone-alt 01304 840581 ENVELOPE tmchugh@sharpak.com tv www.groupeguillin.fr/en
604 SMURFIT WESTROCK
MAP-MARKER-ALT 1000 Abernathy Road. NE, Atlanta, GA 30328 UNITED STATES
phone-alt 001 770 448-2193 ENVELOPE gemma.penrose@smurfitwestrock.co.uk tv www.smurfitwestrock.com
2 SOUTH EAST FARMER
MAP-MARKER-ALT Kelsey Media The Granary, Downs Court,Yalding Hill, Yalding, Maidstone, Kent ME18 6AL UNITED KINGDOM phone-alt 01959 541444 ENVELOPE jamie.mcgrorty@kelsey.co.uk tv www.southeastfarmer.net
710
SUITS ME
MAP-MARKER-ALT The Old Shippon, Moseley Hall Farm, Chelford Road, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 8RB UNITED KINGDOM phone-alt 01565 745 646 ENVELOPE rlynch@suitsmecard.com tv www.suitsmecard.com
4 THE FARMING COMMUNITY NETWORK
MAP-MARKER-ALT Manor Farm, Guilsborough Road, West Haddon, Northamptonshire NN6 7AQ UNITED KINGDOM
phone-alt 03000 111 999 ENVELOPE help@fcn.org.uk tv www.fcn.org.uk
36 THE FRUIT GROWER
MAP-MARKER-ALT ACT Publishing, 21 Church Street, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1EN
UNITED KINGDOM
phone-alt 01622 695656 ENVELOPE info@actpub.co.uk tv https://hortnews.com
408
UK AGRI-TECH CENTRE
MAP-MARKER-ALT Innovation Centre, York Science Park, Heslington, York YO10 5DG
UNITED KINGDOM
phone-alt 01904 217932 ENVELOPE info@ukagritechcentre.com tv www.ukagritechcentre.com
216 UKCA Ltd
MAP-MARKER-ALT Unit 4, Hoads Farm, Moat Lane, Sedlescombe, East Sussex TN33 0RY
UNITED KINGDOM
phone-alt 01424 813268 ENVELOPE sales@ukcaltd.com tv www.ukcaltd.com
658
UPL EUROPE LTD
MAP-MARKER-ALT UPL Europe Ltd (Warrington), Engine Rooms 1st Floor, Birchwood Park, Warrington, Cheshire WA3 6YN
UNITED KINGDOM
phone-alt 01925 819999 ENVELOPE info.uk@upl-ltd.com tv www.uplcorp.com/uk
200
UVO3
MAP-MARKER-ALT Unit 25, Stephenson Road, St Ives, Cambridgeshire PE27 3WJ
UNITED KINGDOM
phone-alt 01480 355 446 ENVELOPE sales@uvo3.co.uk tv www.uvo3.co.uk
618
VAN DEN ELZEN PLANTS
MAP-MARKER-ALT Kraanmeer 24, Erp 5469 SN
THE NETHERLANDS
phone-alt 0031 413 216 200 ENVELOPE info@vandenelzenplants.com tv www.vandenelzenplants.com
110
WOLKY TOLKY WEATHER DATA SERVICES
MAP-MARKER-ALT Veldstraat 56a, Baarlo 5991 AE
THE NETHERLANDS
phone-alt 0031 85 130 4781 ENVELOPE info@wolkytolky.com tv www.wolkytolky.com
104
XL HORTICULTURE
MAP-MARKER-ALT Exmouth Road, West Hill, Ottery St Mary, Devon EX11 1JZ
UNITED KINGDOM
phone-alt 01404 823044 ENVELOPE sales@xlsoftfruit.co.uk tv www.xlsoftfruit.co.uk
FOLLOW THE TRAIL
A maximum of up to six CPD points can be gained from Fruit Focus, two for attendance and up to four for participating in the Knowledge Trail.
In order to claim your BASIS points, please collect a Knowledge trail card from the BASIS stand or a participating stand and complete the questionnaire available on each of the participating stands. You will receive a stamp for each correct questionnaire (8 out of 10 questions). Please return your completed stamp card to Harry or Thomas at the BASIS stand 40.
Correct at time of printing. See BASIS on stand 40 for a complete list of participating exhibitors
