NATIONAL FRUIT SHOW REVIEW
22
NFU President Minette Batters highlighted the “amazing opportunities” facing the fruit sector and stressed her passionate support for growers as she performed the official opening of this year’s National Fruit Show. The event, which marked the 90th anniversary of the show, staged as always by the Marden Fruit Show Society, and the 14th under the energetic chairmanship of South East Farmer contributor Sarah Calcutt, again combined a celebration of quality fruit with a chance to check out the latest machinery, support and services available. The central fruit display was as impressive as ever and reflected the skills of a wide variety of exhibitors that Sarah pointed out ranged in age from 21 to 90. Best in show went to A J Bray, with a Jazz that scored an impressive 98.5 points, while A C Goatham & Son was just half a point behind with the show’s Best Braeburn. The Best Bramley was exhibited by Bardsley Horticulture and scored 96.5 points, Mallions grew the Best Gala and the Best Cox went to Claygate Farm. The Best Pear was a Concorde grown by J
AMAZING
OPPORTUNITIES
L Baxter which scored 96 points in what was acknowledged to have been a difficult year that wasn’t helped by challenging weather during harvest. This year’s show continued the focus developed over recent years on cider, with 37 varieties of perry and cider featured. The three Engage Agro Trophies went to Dowdings Sweet Still (Best Traditional) Dudda’s Apricot (Best Mixed Blend) and Double Vision Fine Kent Perry (Best Pear/Perry). The South East Farmer Trophy for the Best Sparkling Cider want to Turners for its Fine Cider, while the Best Machinery Trade Stand prize, also awarded by the magazine, went to N P Seymour, one of the show’s four sponsors
Sarah Calcutt
Minette Batters DECEMBER 2023 | WWW.SOUTHEASTFARMER.NET
alongside Worldwide Fruit, Hutchinsons and BASF. Introducing Ms Batters in what was her last year as chairman after 14 years at the helm of the society, Sarah Calcutt paid tribute to the “utterly fantastic” fruit on display “despite the weather and retail challenges”. In response, the NFU President said it was “an enormous privilege” to be asked to open the 90th National Fruit Show and support an industry she felt so passionate about. While she admitted she had not quite got the country’s political leaders completely on her wavelength with regards to the fruit sector, she stressed the “amazing opportunity” for the UK’s top fruit and the importance of driving the