Robust harvest helps bring Kissabel’s unique colours, profile to UK retailers

It’s been a banner autumn for the star of all apples, Kissabel, in the UK. British partner Worldwide Fruit was the first to begin harvesting, ahead of France, Italy, Germany and Switzerland. And it also marked the start of marketing campaigns to get the word out on the red Rouge, pink flesh and yellow and […]

‘Innovative’ Kissabel sees chance to grow red apple sector ahead of Fruit Attraction

Northern Hemisphere Kissabel apples returned to the market in mid-September. European production will rise by 40%, with a crop of 3,500 tonnes, for the apple with a colored flesh ranging from pink to intense red shades. To coincide with the new season, Kissabel partners are preparing to exhibit at Fruit Attraction 2023, the international fruit and vegetable […]

Pink Lady maintains solid sales in UK, Europe despite economic setbacks

Pink Lady apple sales show no signs of slowing, post record numbers in June

Though inflation has driven big discounts and even downgrades, those in the apple industry have been surviving as well as they can. Despite the challenges, Pink Lady Europe says its 180,000 tonnes of apples sold this season has kept pace with market expectations, posting a 3% gain over the previous season.  In addition, Pink Lady […]

UK growers forced to chop down apple trees because of lack of profits

apples trees

After years of struggling with an increasingly challenging market, unpredictable climate, inflation, and lack of labour, some apple growers in England are seeing no profit and cutting down apple orchards.  This is the case for the southeast county of Kent “Garden of England,” where a family-owned apple farm that has been producing since 1882 will […]

European apple volumes forecast flat for 2022-23 but pears set for big rise

The outlook for European apple and pear production for 2022 is hopeful, with pear volumes set to rise by 20 percent and apple volumes expected to increase by 1 percent compared to last year. The figures were released on August 4 at the Prognosfruit 2022 conference in Belgrade, Serbia. It was the first in-person Prognosfruit event after […]

Pink Lady apple founder John Cripps passes away

The legend behind the the Pink Lady apple, John Cripps has passed away in Australia where he released his apple formula to the market 30 years ago. He was 95 years old. According to News.co.au, Cripps daughter Helen Cripps commented on her father’s legacy in an interview with ABC radio. “It took 25 years of research […]

Camellia buys Major Apple Supplier Bardsley England

LONDON — Global agriculture group Camellia Plc has purchased an 80% stake in Bardsley England for £15.7m while also making a loan to Bardsley of £9.3m.  Bardsley England, a major fruit farming business whose customers include many major supermarkets, is the UK’s second largest apple grower, with a farming operation that covers 850 hectares (2,100 […]

South Africa expects big pome fruit harvest, but shipping costs a concern

South African fruit group Hortgro says exports to UK will continue as planned

South Africa’s Hortgro says it is expecting a record apple and pear crop this season after “near-perfect growing conditions”. The “exceptional” harvests come despite challenges relating to the Covid-19 pandemic and a “few tough years of drought”, it said. Additionally, the expected record volumes come in spite of the Langkloof hail which in January removed […]