Week 6 of More Farmers More Food Campaign looks at fruit farming.

Here at the PFFA we are eager to spread awareness of the kinds of fruit we grow in the UK and give the public a better understanding of it.

In the UK British fruit is generally grown outdoors, namely in orchards and also in polytunnels. The fruits grown here are decidedly non-tropical due to our climate. Included are:

Strawberries
Raspberries
Blackcurrants
Redcurrants
Whitecurrants
Apples
Plums/damsons/greengages
Pears
Cherries
Blackberries
Loganberries
Tayberries
Blueberries
Rhubarb (technically a veg)
Grapes
Cherries
Peaches/nectarines
Apricots
Gooseberries
Jostaberries
Medlars
Quince
Figs

and we are also able to grow melons, goldenberries, kiwis and some citrus fruits on a small scale with clever planning.

Typically the best time to harvest British berries is in the summer season, running through to late autumn, with quince being picked in November. Sadly at present, we only produce 17% of what we consume. So if we want to build food security, we must go further in fruit production. Shopping or growing and eating seasonal produce has multiple benefits. It helps to boost our economy, is better for our health to eat in tune with the seasons and it has a positive impact on the environment.

Here are some facts about apples:

Apples originated in the Middle East more than 4,000 years ago. They have been grown as a cultivated crop since the Roman occupation. The Victorian explorers found new varieties from all over the world and brought them back to Kent, which was developing its orchards and gardens. The UK apple market is worth around £115M, but only 31% of the eating apples sold in the UK are homegrown. Orchard land has decreased while imports of apples to the UK has risen.

With so many varieties, clever storage and preserving techniques, there’s no reason you can’t be eating them at least half of the year from UK-grown produce!

There used to be lots of pick-your-own fruit farms a few years back, but sadly there are not so many these days. There are websites that will tell you if there are any in your local area and a search engine will bring up local fruit farms in the UK. Going through the fruit seasons you can pick and buy your own. Maybe it’s time to start a pick-your-own revolution and bring them back!

Fruit and veg are part of a healthy balanced diet and can help you stay well. It’s important you eat enough of them. They are vital for our overall health and maintenance of our body systems. They also help repair damage caused by free radicals in our bodies and may protect against certain cancers. They also have a positive impact on gut and digestive health.

They are a good source of vitamins and minerals, including folate, vitamin C and potassium. They are an excellent source of dietary fibre and antioxidants including polyphenols and they taste delicious.

We think it’s time to get planting more fruit bushes and trees!

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