CHALLENGES FOR THE UK STONE FRUIT PRODUCTION

Transcription

1 CHALLENGES FOR THE UK STONE FRUIT PRODUCTION A N D T H E D I F F E R E N C E S W I T H E U R O P E Leon Jahae Top Fruit Consultancy Ltd

2 THE UK CONSUMER The large majority of cherries are purchased from supermarkets Farm gate sales are increasing but only represent a very small percentage Consumer is much less driven by fruit size but: Eating experience, consistency in quality and shelf life determine the success of cherries On line purchasing becomes increasingly more important 2

3 MARKET FOR NICHES 3

4 A FEW FACTS ABOUT THE UK CHERRY PRODUCTION: Scale of growing: 10 ha is usually the minimum and several growers grow well over 100 hectares of cherries on their farm. About 30 big players (growers) An estimated 90% of the modern cherry orchards are grown under covers. The estimated total area of all cherries is around 1,000-1,200 hectares The majority of UK cherries are grown for the main retailers (supermarket chains) 4

5 COVERING ORCHARDS: Protecting crops Protecting trees. In certain areas the trees are covered from the moment bud movement starts in the spring and the covers are taken off when eaves drop has finished Establishment of trees Harvest management, especially on larger farms 5

6 STATEMENT Modern UK cherry growing has the main roots in Soft Fruit production and not in Top Fruit production (as in most countries). 6

7 THE RELATION SOFT FRUIT PRODUCTION AND CHERRY PRODUCTION IN THE UK During the mid nineties from last century, a leading soft fruit grower decided to go into cherry production. This soft fruit grower was (is) also producer and developer of tunnel-systems that stand the unpredictable weather in certain parts of the UK 7

8 THE INFLUENCE OF SOFT FRUIT PRODUCTION ON UK CHERRY GROWING This has had an influence on the chosen covering systems and subsequently the growing system: Soft Fruit Growers grow in tunnels Soft Fruit Growers are : Usually more focussed on irrigation management and feeding Soft Fruit Growers are more focussed on climate control (humidity and temperatures) Soft Fruit Growers enjoy to manipulate crops and see the additional value for doing so Soft Fruit Growers are new but very open minded to tree management Soft Fruit Growers are not used to be patient 8

9 UK CHERRY GROWING AREAS Scotland South East (Kent). Herefordshire and Welsh Border, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Staffordshire. 9

10 Cherry production in Scotland. 10

11 CHERRY GROWING AREA, KENT Has a long tradition of cherry growing Usually part of Top Fruit Growing Enterprises. This means growing in combination with apples and pears Currently increasingly influenced by Soft Fruit Growing Techniques Earliest growing area from the UK, but also late sites 11

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13 SITTINGBOURNE (KENT) RAINFALL 13

14 THE MIDLANDS (GLOUCESTERSHIRE, HEREFORDSHIRE AND WELSH BORDER, WORCESTERSHIRE AND STAFFORDSHIRE) Traditional Top Fruit Growing area but modern cherry production finds its roots in the Soft Fruit Industry Depending on soil type, altitude and lay out of orchards: 7-21 days after Kent However, south facing banks on light land can be extremely early as well. 14

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16 NEWENT, (MIDLANDS) RAINFALL 16

17 SCOTLAND New area, mainly concentrating on very late production Needs covering from prior to bud break until completion of leaf fall Sweetheart : up to middle of September (without forcing) 17

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19 BLAIRGOWRIE (SCOTLAND), RAINFALL 19

20 CHOOSING FOR TUNNELS MEANS CHOOSING (BY DEFAULT) FOR A DOUBLE ROW Ground cover between the rows Planting on covered ridges 20

21 LAY OUT OF A TUNNEL PLANTING 21

22 THE UK PRODUCTION AND TARGETS: Substitution of imports, main season Substitution of imports during the early part of the season Developing growing systems and varieties for late and very late sales for both home market and exports 22

23 CHALLENGES IN THE EARLY PART OF THE SEASON: Huge potential Substituting imports Finding and developing the right varieties: Brix, firmness and shelf life Substitute current varieties as Burlat and Merchant Affordable ways of forcing varieties but not in glasshouses 23

24 CHALLENGES FOR MID SEASON PRODUCTION: Abundance of very good varieties available, no direct need for improvement Sometimes challenging for the market: for instance Kordia picking has started in Kent and Midlands have just started picking their mid season varieties 24

25 CHALLENGES FOR THE LATE PART OF THE SEASON PRODUCTION: Very good opportunities but also very challenging QUOTE: Producing late is not just a matter of: the more north of the country, the later 25

26 LATE SEASON PRODUCTION: Soil type (Stronger and heavier land is later) Orchard positioning: north or south facing Altitude (cooler) Summer temperatures: mild summers allow much slower development of the fruit. Flowering dates are less important than the points mentioned above. 26

27 LATE SALES Target: UK cherries available until the middle of October Delaying harvest (manipulating the crop) Planting late varieties Improvement of storage A combination of the above 27

28 CHALLENGES FOR LATE PRODUCTION (LATE AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER): Same amount and quantities of Active Ingredients available for Rot Prevention, regardless picking dates. So a Burlat cherry that has been picked during June receives the exact same amount of fungicides than a cherry that will be on the trees for almost 2.5 months longer. 28

29 LATE AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER PRODUCTION MEANS: Rots: Producing and harvesting cherries during very high humidity circumstances (dew), so rots become a much bigger issue. Brix: Eating quality and cherry shelf life is often not an issue but lower Brix levels which is unacceptable to certain supermarket chains. The later in the season, the more this becomes a (created) issue. Pests: Late picking means more issues concerning Drosophila Suzuki, especially in the cooler climates 29

30 MANIPULATING THE HARVEST DATES: Type of covers Classic Clear Polythene Luminance THB Polythene Lumisol Clear Polythene Lumisol Diffused Polythene ADR Polythene Covering dates (very early-very late) 30

31 Anti root cloth between the rows can be substituted by white Planting on ridges, black polythene can be substituted by white 31

32 WISH LIST Much better early varieties, that suit northern European circumstances Better late varieties than currently available Improving storage Developing late varieties with storage potential UK cherries: June-Mid October= 4.5 months of the year Statement: Not necessarily the latest harvesting varieties are the best for late season marketing. Planting systems, tree training techniques, varieties and rootstocks that allow an early break-even point 32

33 PLUMS Renewed interest but a limited market with an even more limitation on variety choice. Saint Julian A rootstock is still the best choice and manageable also in higher density systems. Marketing: Working on a new image and not only work on traditional 33

34 APRICOTS I started extensive trials 6 years ago on several sites over the country, repeating the same trials Step 1: Variety selection (I keep adding new varieties). This was and is the first goal. Step 2: Rootstock and variety combination. Resulting now in a clear advice for one specific grower/marketer that will plant 50 ha over different UK locations 34

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