NATIONAL FRUIT SHOW PREVIEW
‘LIVE’ AND IN-PERSON
The return of the National Fruit Show brings growers, suppliers and buyers together again
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The committee of the Marden Fruit Show Society (MFSS) has expressed its delight at being able to stage the 88th National Fruit Show as a ‘live’ in-person event at the Kent Event Centre in Detling on 20 and 21 October. Ever evolving, the show will boast a number of new features this year, with MFSS Executive Chair Sarah Calcutt overseeing a series of exciting changes to the structure, governance and content of the annual industry get together. The 2021 show will be opened by Tom Bradshaw, Deputy President of the NFU who will be meeting with growers throughout the morning and attend the President’s reception at midday, hosted by current MFSS President Teresa Wickham. Key figures will include representatives of producer organisations and those with knowledge of the new Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMS). In a move to boost its environmental footprint the event has moved away from plastic packaging and will instead be using recycled and recyclable paper pulp punnets and tray liners. The show’s return is being enthusiastically welcomed by the industry as a sign that ‘business as usual’ is returning. Sarah Calcutt said: “The National Fruit Show is a much-loved industry event that delivers a useful and important forum for growers. We are determined that its new features, including the conference forum, new speakers and industry-led advice and support, really answer growers’ urgent questions. “These are unprecedented times and we are doing everything within our power to ensure that the voices and needs of growers are heard by those with decision-making responsibilities.” The show dinner and dance will bring the first day to its conclusion and will once again feature the auction and industry Bonanza Prize.
WHO’S EXHIBITING?
Currently some 90 exhibitors are booked to attend the show. The show team is delighted that many businesses who have supported the event for several decades have booked again, while there are also many new sponsors and exhibitors attending for the first time. MFSS is delighted to be welcoming international Institutions like MHA MacIntyre Hudson into the heart of the show, along with Azets, Harvest Green Developments and many more. Following its debut at the show in 2019, The Hive will return to showcase new, entrepreneurial tech-led companies that are appearing for the first time.
NOVEMBER 2021 | WWW.SOUTHEASTFARMER.NET
Companies announced so far in this space are: OX Truck – how do you like the idea of a self-build and self-maintaining farm vehicle? OX Trucks can be configured as a flat-bed lorry, people carrier or mobile workshop; this is an opportunity to meet Emily, the brains behind the concept, and learn how a solar-powered, build-it-yourself vehicle could work for your business. The Ox Truck team will be joined by Concordia, the BASIS and NRoSO registration desk and the amazing team from City Harvest, who will be talking to growers and packers about re-purposing non retail fruit.
WHAT’S NEW?
• On day one there will be a new conference event in partnership with the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers, sponsored by MHA MacIntyre Hudson. The event will see Master Fruiterer Laurence Olins chair a panel of speakers including PhD students and Nuffield scholars, with the session culminating with food policy expert Professor Tim Lang discussing the challenges of feeding Britain and the dichotomy of food and environmental policy. The second conference session promises to be a lively debate entitled: “How can Farmers go green when they are in the red?” Come and join in, make your opinions know, have your say! • A new competition – Britain’s Tastiest Pear – will be judged at the show, alongside the existing favourite, Britain’s Tastiest Apple. Judges include Covent Garden Tenants’ Association Chair Gary Marshall, grower Peter Checkley and John and Stuart Guest. A tray of the overall winner’s fruit will be included in the traditional basket presented to the Lord Mayor of London on 27 October at Mansion House, and the winner and their partner will be invited as guests of the Fruiterers at the lunch following the presentation. • New awards for 2021 include the Jon Jones Prize, endowed by the team he used to lead at Richard Hochfeld. The winner will be an individual who has worked consistently for the benefit of the industry, someone who has both excelled at their day job but also gone above and beyond to ensure fairness in all that they do. Nominations have now closed for 2021, but the society would like to build a list for the future. The second new award, which is open for nominations until 30 September, is the Ian Johnson Award for Practical Innovation. This seeks a solution that doesn’t involve an app, nor a computer ideally, but offers a farm-driven solution to a troublesome problem faced by many in the sector. Ian was a very practical man who liked no-nonsense solutions and this prize pays tribute to such innovation. Please send nominations to sarah@nationalfruitshow.org.uk.
