Here’s to another 90 years!

We have reached a significant landmark and are celebrating The Marden Fruit Show Society’s 90th year. Our aim for this show is for it to be informative and inspirational, looking ahead positively for the next 90 years.

It is also my first show at the helm and along with the team we hope you enjoy it and some of the new features and events over the two days.

At the centre of every show is the fantastic display of fruit. We know it isn’t always easy for growers to spare the time to select the best, but we are grateful for those growers who do enter, and it provides a showcase for our industry and a talking point for visitors. The best in show will also once again be sent to 10 Downing Street and Buckingham Palace, along with a copy of this handbook.

We have a full house of exhibitors and a packed programme of talks and events, along with our networking and gala dinner, so make the most of the show and the opportunities to meet with growers and the businesses which supply them.

New for this year is a cider bar, from which we will also be judging entries for our cider competition over the two days. Drinks experts Melissa Cole and Nigel Barden will be on hand to taste and score the entries. Come along and enjoy a glass or two (in moderation if you are driving of course).

We are delighted to welcome NFU President Minette Batters to the show who is formally opening it, and she will be giving the key note speech at 11.30am on day one.

As we approach the next general election it is important that our industry and individual growers have a voice and I would encourage you all to come along to hear Minette and to take part in the Q&A session.

We have a strong focus this year on technology, machinery and equipment represented by many of the exhibitors here, which is not only changing the sector but enabling growers to produce food more sustainably and efficiently.

With so much change, we also have a focus on the skills that the top fruit and the wider fresh produce sector needs for the future, and we are delighted to be hosting on day two, Kent’s first Teacher Encounter with The Kent and Medway Careers Hub and Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG).

Led by Samantha Smith of the National Fruit Show Education Programme, teachers from approximately 70 schools will see what exciting and rewarding careers are available and will take that knowledge back into schools to encourage young people with those skills and interests to think about joining us. Look out for them touring the show on day two, this is a unique opportunity to engage directly with teachers who will take that knowledge back with them into their schools, reaching a significantly larger audience of secondary age children than we have targeted before.

Finally, I would like to thank our sponsors, without whom we couldn’t put on such a great show. Thank you not only to our main sponsors, N P Seymour Ltd, Worldwide Fruit, Hutchinsons and BASF, but to everyone else who contributes both to the show and to events throughout the year. If you would like to find out how your business can get involved, I would love to speak to you.

It also wouldn’t be possible to stage this show without the support of the many volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes and whose knowledge and experience is vital to our success.

I look forward to seeing you at the show.