FOOD + DRINK
KEEPING KENT GROWING CONT .
@ RUBY _ THE _ CHOCOLATE _ COCKAPOO insideKENT spoke to Canterbury-based fruit grower , David Riccini , who has over 40 years of commercial fruit growing and consultation experience behind him . “ The 2022 season began promisingly , albeit with the unknown knock on consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine yet to unfold . Fruit set was good , the weather favourable . The drought , Europe wide , had an effect on fruit size , particularly where irrigation was unavailable , making apples and pears across Europe smaller than usual . It is important to note that British apple customers prefer to buy smaller sized fruit than their counterparts in the EU who prefer theirs 10mm larger . Though UK supermarkets are not the best paying , the UK is regarded by the rest of Europe as a reasonable outlet for the continent ’ s smaller fruit not required at home .” So what does that mean for us and British fruit ?
“ Poland is now the largest producer of apples in Europe , but their preferred market was , until sanctions hit , Russia . Consequently , that volume of apples desperately needed a new home within Europe , displacing domestic production of many countries at a huge discount .” David added . “ Everyone looked at the UK as a new home for the surplus supply of smaller than average apples , and our supermarkets were happy to take advantage of the discounts offered .
Additionally , the shortage of labour in the UK has had an effect beyond wage inflation with growers having to pay over the odds to get fruit picked or leave it on the trees . All inputs are subject to inflation , particularly energy , growers spending massive amounts on electricity for cold storage , and of course picking up the tab for road fuel in distribution .” A disturbing outlook that has all the power to hit the future of Kent ’ s Garden of England heritage hard , not to mention the rest of Britain .
David continued : “ We ’ re not expecting an improvement in 2023 ; growers are cancelling investments , particularly in new orchards , grubbing out marginal ones , and cutting costs wherever possible in an attempt to ride it out and get to season 2024 intact .” The National Farmers Union stress that the UK needs a secure and continuous supply of British fruit now and in the future , stating that ‘ recent events across the world show we cannot always rely on other countries to provide for us . In the last two years alone , a pandemic , a war and an economic crisis have all put pressure on food production and our supply chains . Our shops should never be empty of any ingredients that are produced by British farmers and growers .’ Although ultimately our government needs to make practical changes to their system , we as consumers can still make sure that the future of Kentish agriculture , and in turn our Kentish countryside , is never threatened .
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