MPs debate plastics use on fresh produce
The House of Commons debated whether supermarkets should have to offer fruit and vegetables which…
Author Leah
Bayer Monsanto broccoli patent revoked
The European Patent Office (EPO) has revoked a patent held by Bayer for traditionally-bred easy-to-harvest…
FDF seeks views on Sainsbury-Asda merger
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) is conducting a survey on how the industry feels…
Healthy Plants, Healthy Business
The HTA, in association with APHA, are hosting an essential one-day conference, Healthy Plants, Healthy…
Industry unites to showcase exciting career opportunities in agriculture to attract new blood
A large proportion of young people in Britain are interested in working in the food…
BCPC partners with NIAB to boost provision of independent agri-science information
The British Crop Production Council, BCPC, will be joining NIAB, in a move that will…
Stronger HTA Executive Team to drive member value
Following a review carried out by the Board of the HTA, the association’s Executive Team…
Rural crime needs to be a top police priority all year round, NFU says
The NFU is calling on Police and Crime Commissioners to make tackling rural crime a…
Triple helix approach to agri-tech innovation underpins UK farming future
By delivering a ‘triple-helix’ model for innovation – which brings together industry, research and government…
New scholarships available to students
The David Colegrave Foundation (DCF) scholarship season is open for student horticulturists. This year sees…
Award-winning raspberries from Chambers
Chambers celebrated success at this year’s National Fruit Show – which has been showcasing the…
MPs call for more support for horticulture
The All-Party Parliamentary and Horticulture Group (APPGHG) has called on the government to recognise the…
EU delays decision on approval of copper compounds
It has emerged that European countries are divided about the continued approval of copper products…
Snack Lettuce wins award
Rijk Zwaan’s new convenience concept of Snack Lettuce©has won an award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship…
LEAF Open Farm Sunday announces plans to support new host farmers
LEAF has announced new plans to support farmers who want to open their gates as…
Minecto One gives veg growers new insect control option
Approval for the new Syngenta insecticide, Minecto One, now gives vegetable growers an essential alternative…
Chambers expands management team to support company growth
Chambers has announced a number of appointments in line with the company’s expansion plans for 2019. Vicky…
Signify expands trial at Porta Nova for Philips GreenPower LED toplighting with dedicated rose spectrum
Signify have announced that Porta Nova, one of the world’s largest growers of Red Naomi roses,…
NFU responds to Budget statement
Responding to today’s Budget statement by the Chancellor Philip Hammond, NFU President Minette Batters said:…
Energy saving programme extended to soft fruit sector
The UK soft fruit industry can now benefit from established energy and cost saving advice…
HTA Pearson Medal awarded to Baroness Fookes
This year the HTA has awarded The Pearson Memorial Medal to Baroness Fookes, the co-chair…
Regional Agronomist Position
Location: South East/East Anglia Berry Gardens Growers Ltd, the UK’s leading soft and stone fruit co-operative, seeks…
NFU urges industry to open up about mental health
The NFU is urging the farming industry to reverse the stigma around mental wellbeing as…
Guy Shropshire – Obituary
Guy Shropshire, the inspirational farmer, agricultural innovator and founder of the G’s Group, one of…
Soft Fruit Advisor
Delphy Poland provides high quality independent technical advice to leading Soft Fruit Growers throughout Poland. We retain…
Worldwide fruit could stockpile fruit if ‘no deal Brexit’
Worldwide Fruit has said that it could consider stockpiling fruit in the event that the…
New Covent Garden traders take market to court
The Covent Garden Tenants’ Association (CGTA), which represents wholesalers based in the market, has begun…
Mixed season for Kentish growers
It has been a very mixed season for growers in the Garden of England, with…
UK onion crop down 40%
Weather conditions in the UK mean that onion yields have been severely affected, and the…
Certainty and cooperation needed to secure strong British and European food and farming industry post-Brexit
Farming leaders from Europe and the UK have come together in London this morning to…
Strasbourg “flash” group spotlights unfair food trade
West Midlands MEP Anthea McIntyre has joined farmers and producers’ groups in a “flash” event…
Targeting millennials, defeating plastics and experiential retail at Cultivating Retail
It is not too late to join friends and colleagues attending Cultivating Retail – the…
A central hub for farming and politics: NFU’s new London base
The NFU has officially opened its new and improved base in the heart of Westminster…
NFU seeking urgent meeting with Government to discuss future of British farming
The NFU is seeking an urgent meeting with the highest level of Government, after the…
Dr Bill Watts to Work with Potato Industry in Wales and the West
Bill Watts has joined AHDB as Arable Knowledge Exchange Manager (Potatoes) for the West Midlands,…
Gardening is good for you! – the HTA’s new campaign
New for 2019, the HTA’s ‘Gardening is good for you’ campaign reveals just how good…
PO funding guaranteed until end of parliament
Defra has pledged to maintain current levels of funding for recognised producer organisations (POs) until…
Phytophthora infestans identified early in tomato season
AHDB Horticulture has reported that symptoms of Phytopthora infestans causing late blight on tomato crops…
Climate change could benefit UK apple production
A new series of experiments at Brogdale, funded by the National Fruit Collections Trust, aims…
Berry Gardens aims to double business
Berry Gardens chief executive Jacqui Green has revealed that the soft- and stonefruit cooperative plans…
UK potato harvesting described as ‘patchy’
The maincrop potato harvest is now well underway, although a mixture of very dry conditions…
Birmingham opens new wholesale market
Birmingham’s new integrated wholesale market, which is one of the largest in Europe, has been…
New strategy launched for apple industry
English Apples & Pears (EAP) has unveiled a new strategy that it hopes will see…
New research shapes way forward to engage young people with farming
An extensive programme of pioneering research to encourage better teenager engagement is helping the farming…
British Onions announces details of open day
British Onions has announced details of its open day at NIAB, which will include a…
British Growers welcomes announcement on Produce Organisations
The British Growers Association has welcomed the Government’s commitment to continue funding Producer Organisations (POs)…
A giant leek for mankind
A celebratory event to mark the 25th anniversary of a hugely successful partnership between academia…
174 stone pumpkin is a world record holder
One pumpkin that won’t fit into the local supermarket is this 174 stone pumpkin grown…
Chambers bolsters partner-grower network to increase year-round berry offering
Chambers, one of the UK’s leading independent berry growers, has announced a significant expansion of…
Potential Diquat ban challenges future harvest
Use of alternative herbicides was the main topic of discussion at the final AHDB Strategic…
Organic sector calls for much clearer contingency measures as Brexit looms
The Organic Trade Board (OTB) and the United Kingdom Organic Certifiers Group (UKOCG) are calling…
‘Perfect storm’ of weather and Brexit could have a devastating effect on leek industry
The combination of weather conditions this year, fears over Brexit and the weakness of the…
Hear more about Life at No 27 at HTA Marketing Forum
Annabelle Padwick, founder of Life at No.27 and ambassador for the gardening charity Thrive, has been…
New protection system for cherries comes to Europe
A new cherry protection system, which the manufacturers claim can be opened and closed in…
Re-trial of Tesco executives begins this week
This week sees the re-trial of two former Tesco executives begin at Southwark Crown Court…
Produce Investments loses contract
Press reports suggest that major potato supplier Produce Investments, which owns Greenvale AP, Swancote Foods…
Seaweed could be key to lower nutrient and water use in horticulture
Water and fertiliser use in horticulture could be reduced, without lowering yields, by using biostimulants…
Latest research to be revealed at Soft Fruit Day
The latest results of the AHDB-funded research on soft fruit, particularly looking at pest and…
Students’ vineyard celebrates record harvest
A university’s Cotswolds vineyard is celebrating a record harvest this year, following the summer heatwave.…
New date announced for VinestoWines 2019
VinestoWines, the UK wine and viticulture event set within Fruit Focus, is returning to NIAB’s…
NFU joins forces with food supply chain to tackle food waste
The NFU has announced its support for the Food Waste Reduction Roadmap and is encouraging its…
New system improves blueberry production
Improving the drainage of container-grown blueberry crops can improve both fruit quality and yield according…
Cooling lettuce roots boosts crop growth
Israeli crop technology company Roots Sustainable Agricultural Technologies Ltd says that trails of its proprietary…
Attitudes to plastic affecting produce sales
According to a new survey of smaller retailers by card payment services company Payment Sense,…
Government must put food at heart of new Agriculture Bill
NFU President Minette Batters says: “The NFU alongside, the whole food supply chain, has been…
New cases of lettuce Fusarium wilt confirmed
New outbreaks of lettuce Fusarium wilt have been confirmed at sites in Lancashire and Ireland,…
English Apples & Pears response to MAC report
Ali Capper, Executive Chair of English Apples & Pears (EAP) says: “Upon first reflection of…
VariMAS mixing system prevents lump-formation
The Munckhof VariMAS orchard sprayer has been developed in collaboration with fruit growers to satisfy…
Home-grown polythene recycling
A new polytunnel film recycling scheme is providing UK growers with an alternative solution for…
Statement from Nick Marston, Chairman of British Summer Fruits
In response to the Home Office press release ‘UK farmers given support for seasonal labour…
Volume of Sunburst apples triples in second season
British-bred Sunburst apples are back on the shelves at Waitrose and volume is set to…
Government seasonal labour scheme falls ‘well short of requirements’
The British Growers Association has welcomed the Government’s initiative on seasonal labour in principle but…
Home Secretary announced a new temporary work visa that will allow farmers to employ migrant workers for up to six months
The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Home Secretary announced…
Bill makes provisions for horticulture
The Agriculture Bill published by Defra in September details the legislation which will change the…
RHI changes allow updates to heating plant, says FEC
Changes to the renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme come into effect in October, allowing participating…
Danziger’s annual Novemberfest
The world’s leading growers, young plant producers, retailers and brokers are invited to visit Danziger’s Israel facility…
Search begins for top trainees in Scotland’s rural industries
Lantra Scotland’s Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Awards are now underway, with nominations…
HTA Benevolent Fund supports members in need
The HTA Benevolent Fund continues to work in confidence supporting members of the HTA with…
Dr Paul Alexander joins Bulrush
Bulrush Horticulture are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Paul Alexander asTechnical Support and…
Signify launches new Philips GreenPower LED toplighting
Signify have announced the introduction of new Philips GreenPower LED toplighting high output with a…
Be on the lookout for theft of irrigation machinery
Farmers, landowners and groundsmen are asked to be on the lookout for field scale irrigation…
Soil holds the secret to mitigating climate change
New research from Michigan State University in the United States suggests that crop yields and…
Bejo introduces sustainable seed coating
Plant breeders and seed producers Bejo Zaden have introduced a new seed coating which is…
Hort Science Live – practical showcase of latest science
Hort Science Live 2018, the highly practical event showcasing the latest scientific developments in ornamental…
NFU’s food report delivered to Britain’s politicians
The NFU last week launched a food report, UK: A Nation United by Food, which will…
Board appointments ratified at HTA AGM
The Annual General Meeting of the Horticultural Trades Association, that took place at Glee on…
NFU backs Red Tractor bid to become British food and farming flagship
A new million pound TV advertising campaign launched by Red Tractor will help raise its…
Red Tractor bids to become the flagship for British food and farming
Red Tractor announced last week its intent to substantially increase the strength and breadth of…
Summer’s drought spurs on efforts to reduce peat use
Industry research and innovation on alternatives to using peat in commercial horticulture will be showcased…
Student wins SWGS Sponsored Scholarship
Student, Luke Spiller, has won a South West Growers Show Sponsored Scholarship as part of…
Guidance highlights fragile nature of pyrethroids
Guidelines for the management of insecticide resistance in several key UK crops have been updated…
Lettuce Fusarium wilt confirmed at new sites
Following its confirmation as a new disease in October last year, Lettuce Fusarium wilt caused…
Food-to-go outperforms groceries sector
According to the latest sales insights from IGD, the UK’s food-to-go sector is set to…
Scottish scientists working to improve raspberry flavour
Plant breeders and scientists from Scotland’s James Hutton Institute at Invergowrie near Dundee are working…
Shortage of CO2 for Dutch greenhouses
Long term efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of Dutch horticulture, together with the recent…
Rising produce prices could hit restaurants
Wholesalers have warned that higher fresh produce prices, which are the result of poor yields…
NFU underlines need for action as costs of rural crime reach all-time high
The NFU has expressed concern as new figures show the cost of rural crime has…
Final call for growers to claim their share of refund
NFU Sugar and British Sugar are making a final call for eligible growers to claim…
Fruitful partnership for graduate
An award-winning high-yield farming system developed by young entrepreneur is currently being trialled in Wales.…
Boyd Douglas-Davies to join HTA Board as Vice-President
The Horticultural Trades Association is delighted to announce that Boyd Douglas-Davies, CEO of Hillview Garden…
Farmers, growers and processors asked for views on AHDB
Farmers, growers, processors and industry representatives are being asked for their views from 31 August…
Last straw for farmers as Government fails to act on drought promises, says NFU
The NFU has today made renewed appeals to Secretary of State Michael Gove to assist…
Plums are latest crop to be affected by the weather
Plums are the latest British crop to be affected by this summer’s extreme weather. Growers…
Albert Bartlett celebrates birthday with packaging revamp
Potato supplier Albert Bartlett is to celebrate its 70thanniversary with a new ‘retro’ packaging design…
Bayer preparing for thousands of Roundup lawsuits
Following the successful lawsuit against Monsanto in California in August in which a jury ruled…
Sainsbury’s and Asda could have to sell up to 300 stores
Despite consistent reassurances by Sainsbury’s chief executive Mike Coupe that there will be no store…
Scientists propose indoor farming to counter climate change
Research supported by Agri-Tech Cornwall at the University of Plymouth has proposed using ‘factory conditions’…
Next generation of pesticides could be harmful to bees
Hopes for a new family of agricultural insecticides with little impact on non-target species, such…
New panel members sought to support AHDB Horticulture
18 Horticultural growers are being sought to join the specialist advisory crop panels that help…
New conference to drive technology advancements in horticulture
Leading developers and influencers in agri-tech are being invited to exhibit at SmartHort 2019, a…
RHS funding available to modern day plant hunters
The RHS has made more than £100,000 available to gardening professionals and keen amateurs who…
HTA strengthens its grower representation at Board level
The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has announced the appointment of Brian Fraser, General Manager and…
Check the date for potato harvest interval
Potato maincrop harvesting is set to get underway, with most growers now counting the cost…
Carrot growers call for support as weather leaves lasting legacy
UK carrot growers say that the effects of a long cold spring and hot dry…
Monsanto plans appeal against glyphosate verdict
Roundup manufacturer Monsanto is to appeal against the verdict of a court case in the…
New freezing method preserves fruit for longer
Kent-based fruit supplier Peaty Mills plc is working with frozen fruit specialist Nice Fruit, which…
Develop your marketing strategies with the HTA Marketing Forum
The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) Marketing Forum will take place on Wednesday 17 October 2018…
UK Heatwave Brings Sweet and Juicy Crop for British Blackcurrants
As the British Blackcurrant season comes to a close the growers’ association, The Blackcurrant Foundation…
Brassica growers struggling with difficult season
This year’s growing season has been difficult and financially challenging according to British brassica growers.…
Irish potato growers worried by threat of blight
After months of hot dry weather, Irish potato growers are now concerned that a break…
£90 million to help feed the 9 billion
Applications for the first round of funding from a £90 million pot to revolutionise how…
National Cut Flower Centre secures funding
AHDB has announced that the National Cut Flower Centre (CFC), based at Rookery Farm near…
Rijk Zwaan highlights potential of snack vegetables
Healthy snacking is becoming increasingly popular around the world and Rijk Zwaan believes that it…
Island Horticulture -‘Life after Brexit’
This year, on 3rd October 2018, the Chartered Institute of Horticulture (CIH) will be holding…
NFU Water Bank launched to help farmers during agricultural drought
A new service designed to help match farmers and growers who urgently need water with…
Chance to learn about SCEPTREplus trials on lettuce root aphid
Growers have had the chance to assess the latest set of field trials forming part…
Trials underway for robotic raspberry picking
A robotics development company which started life as a spin-out of the University of Plymouth…
Effects of heat wave on farming getting serious
As the UK enters a cooler period over the coming weekend, there are warnings that…
Horticulture specialist joins AHDB Board
UK Ministers have appointed a new member of the Board of the Agriculture and Horticulture…
Farming Minister reaffirms commitment to UK horticulture sector post-Brexit
Horticultural growers in the UK could get access to new sources of funding in order…
Statistics show need for focus on home-grown food production, says NFU President
NFU President Minette Batters has urged Government to put the nation’s food security at the…
EU tomato production expected to reduce in 2018
Overall tomato production within the European Union is expected to decrease this year due to…
Potato plantings down three per cent amid extreme weather conditions
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) estimates that the total area in Great Britain…
National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs joins forces with Love British Food
The Love British Food campaign is working with young farmers to promote British food to…
Senior Spray Operative
full-time – £26,600-£31,000 Company: Greenhill Fruit Farm Ltd, Davidstown, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, Ireland Duties: Spraying of…
New recommendations to help control vine weevil in soft fruit crops
Growers are being advised to change their strawberry crops every year to reduce the risk…
Still time to apply for LSA Fellowship
Candidates still have until August 17th to apply for a place on the LSA CT…
New multipurpose fungicide for speciality crops
BASF are launching a new multipurpose fungicide for speciality crops – Perseus. Perseus contains two…
Get creative with ornamental grasses and Devil’s Ivy (Scindapsus) – HTA Plant of the Moment for August
From dainty blue fescue grass to majestic miscanthus, ornamental grasses provide texture, character and form…
Omex establishes new trials site in Sicily
Omex Agrifluids has set up a new trials and demonstration site for its soluble plant…
Carrot weed control error
It has come to our notice that in the current August issue of The Vegetable…
Could chickens be the key to sustainable veg production?
Researchers at Iowa State University in America believe that integrating chickens into vegetable production systems…
Heat wave will affect winter veg harvest at home and abroad
While rains over the weekend have provided some respite to growers around the country, the…
NFU calls agricultural drought summit as heatwave bites
The NFU is seeking urgent action to address the crippling impact of the dry, hot…
Farmers and robots join forces at Fruit Focus 2018
The UK has less than 30 weeks of parliamentary time left before the Brexit date, and…
Highly-regarded horticulturalist celebrates 50 years in horticulture
Colin Randel, product manager and vegetable expert at Suffolk-based mail order plants and seeds firm…
Syngenta acquires Floranova to enhance its flowers business in fast growing Asian markets
Syngenta announced today it has completed the acquisition of Floranova, a respected flower and home…
5-year anniversary of Seed meets Technology
Seed meets Technology will kick off its fifth edition from 25 to 27 September 2018 in…
Onion harvest will be down by 25 per cent
This year’s British onion harvest is likely to be 25 per cent down both in…
Taupe is the new black
HTA member growers initiate a way forward for the future of plant pots Following increasing…
First RPP labelled growing media on the market
Responsibly Produced Peat (RPP) is proud to announce the first 4 companies to produce RPP-labelled…
Future of cut flower research centre secured
Funding for The Cut Flower Centre has been confirmed for a further five years, with…
Algorithms for accurate tomato crop estimates
According to Dutch firm HortiKey, continues increases in the area of tomato production globally mean…
Apple harvest latest to be hit by heat wave
Britain’s largest apple and pear growers are warning of a lower than anticipated yield for…
New Dutch strawberries released
Dutch fruit producer Flevo Berry has released a new mid-season fruiting strawberry that the company…
As weather continues, Spain struggles to fill the gaps
As the hot dry weather continues, retailers and wholesalers are continuing to import fresh produce,…
Berry Gardens begins two year robotics trial
Berry Gardens is working with the University of Lincoln and Norway’s Saga Robotics to trial…
Carrot growers look to straw alternatives
AHDB Horticulture has warned that increasing prices for straw, which are likely to be made…
Study tour reinforces case for Producer Organisations post-Brexit
A study tour to Europe run by British Peas and Bean Growers Association has reinforced…
A damaging race to the bottom
Tim O’Malley, Group Managing Director of Nationwide Produce PLC looks at why the ongoing price…
APL and HTA members have reason to celebrateAPL and HTA members have reason to celebrate at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park
RHS Flower Show Tatton Park is taking place this week (18 – 22 July) and…
Free organic bee friendly flower seeds offered to landowners
A Lincolnshire bee farmer is offering local land owners free, organic bee friendly flower seeds…
First tomato crop at Sterling Suffolk to be planted in December
Sterling Suffolk, the new tomato nursery being built at Great Blakenham in Suffolk, says that…
Organic sector needs to rethink farmer engagement
The organic sector needs to change the way it engages with farmers, consumers and policy…
Scottish soft fruit growers say produce being wasted due to lack of pickers
Scottish soft fruit growers in Perthshire and Angus are seeing perfectly good produce left behind…
Business Alliance between Goizper Group & Micron Group
Goizper and Micron are delighted to announce an alliance between these two groups of companies…
First ever fresh produce packaging survey reveals the facts
The British Growers Association has launched the first ever survey of packaging in fresh produce.…
Irrigation a hot topic at SPot Scotland Open Day
After three weeks without rainfall, AHDB’s Strategic Potato (SPot) Farm Scotland Open Day took place…
First major cross-sector review of weed management
AHDB and BBRO have issued a joint call for a review of weed management in…
Industry visit to inspire new robotics & boost crop quality
Thirty students from AHDB’s £1.4 million PhD programme visited food and agricultural businesses to help…
Growers face severe British carrot shortage
British carrot growers advise that recent adverse weather conditions will lead to the lowest yields…
Last chance for Nuffield Farming Scholarship applications
It’s less than three weeks until the 31 July deadline for Nuffield Farming Scholarship applications.…
New glasshouse at STC
Stockbridge Technology Centre has added to its research facilities with a new 384 m2 three-zone…
Westland reveals automated lettuce greenhouse
Evesham-based Westland Nurseries, the UK’s largest grower of micro leaves and specialty edibles, has revealed…
New Fruit and Vegetable Alliance launched in Parliament
The Fruit and Vegetable Alliance was launched in Parliament on Monday to mark the beginning…
Strategic Farm water trials have ‘helped me sleep at night’
Trials on water use completed at Elveden Farms as part of AHDB’s Farm Excellence programme…
Changes in food culture could open new opportunities for farmers
At the beginning of July, Professor Michael Winter presented the inaugural Nuffield Farming Lecture, promoting…
Record Visitor Numbers for 13th LEAF Open Farm Sunday 2018
Final visitor numbers for LEAF Open Farm Sunday 2018, released 9th July, show that this…
New blueberry varieties gain incredible reception
Two new high chill blueberry varieties, MegasBlue and Titanium, have gained a great reception from…
Steamy solution for strawberries cultivated in raised beds
In strawberry cultivation, soil nematodes, soil-borne fungi, and weeds must be combated. This often presents…
Aldi’s A* performance recognised by FreshAwards top accolade
Aldi has secured the highest UK fresh produce industry accolade as 2018 FreshAwards Fresh Produce…
Carbon Gold appoints new Communications Manager
Carbon Gold, Europe’s leading supplier of enriched biochar to the retail, commercial horticulture and landscaping…
FlowerTrials maintains strong position
Despite an increasing number of events vying to attract horticultural visitors, FlowerTrials continues to maintain…
Co-op suppliers set up ‘bee roads’
Farmer suppliers to the Co-op have planted more than 1,000 miles of hedgerows to form…
New tomato harvesting robot tested
Israeli start-up MetoMotion hopes that its new Greenhouse Robotic Worker (GRoW), which is described as…
EU farm groups call for end to uncertainties
European farming groups have united to urge the European Union to minimise the impact of…
Industry getting ready for Fruit Focus
As preparations for Fruit Focus on 25th July continue, the event, which is expected to connect…
Rose ‘Timeless Purple’ wins Visitor Vote Award at HTA National Plant Show
Visitors to the HTA National Plant Show, sponsored by Hortipak, have voted Rose ‘Timeless Purple’…
The UK’S first pea café to open in London
With pop up restaurants having served everything from chocolate eggs and soldiers to simple cereal,…
Novel spore trap could revolutionise crop disease monitoring
An automated spore trap has been developed which could revolutionise disease monitoring in agricultural crops.…
British Flower Week: Co-op flower suppliers unite to celebrate a blooming industry
The Co-op brought together its flower growers and suppliers on the 19th June at the home…
Robots will support, not replace, growers in the future
Co-robots, robots that work with humans rather than replace them, is the future of high-tech…
Vitacress introduces recyclable plastic for living herb pots
Vitacress is introducing recyclable plastic packaging to its living herb pots and in doing so…
Somerset cider orchard wins innovation prize
A Somerset orchard has won the top prize for the Best Innovative Cider Orchard at…
Huntapac Bike Ride for Charity
Huntapac Managing Director Warren Hunter and Technical Director Stephen Shields plan to cycle from Land’s…
Newey welcomes Chris Hall
Newey, the UK’s leading supplier of horticultural products and services through its vertically integrated platform,…
Bonn voyage for rare Eden pollen as it embarks on titanic trip
Pollen from Eden’s giant titan arum flower is being sent to Germany to help breed…
Industry prepares for British Flowers Week
British Flowers week begins on 18 June and this year is supported by the Flower…
Climate change could threaten veg production
A new study has warned that the effects of climate change could significantly limit the…
MP calls for subsidised fresh produce
Barrow-in-Furness MP John Woodcock has written to Environment Secretary Michael Gove calling on him ‘to…
New recruits strengthen HTA’s Horticultural team
HTA is delighted to announce the appointment of two new recruits to strengthen the policy…
Join record numbers gaining the RHS’s most prestigious qualification
With the number of graduates more than doubling in the last year, the Royal Horticultural…
Chelsea Show Plant of the Year
Runaway Bride Snow White, an interspecific hydrangea variety, was chosen as this year’s Chelsea Show…
Showcasing Success on LEAF Open Farm Sunday
Across the country, from Orkney to Jersey, the food and farming industry came together last…
Cocogreen receives Queen’s Award for Enterprise
Coir substrate producer Cocogreen has received a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of…
Horticultural crops to benefit from improved resistance to bacterial infections
Bacterial canker is a disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae, a bacteria that infect the stems,…
HTA National Plant Show exhibitors all sign up to responsible sourcing statement
All nursery exhibitors to the HTA National Plant Show, that takes place on 19 and…
Early appearance of late blight raises concerns for tomato growers
A recent outbreak of Phytophthora infestans, or late blight, in UK tomato crops is likely…
Fraud charges heard
Three men facing fraud charges brought by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs…
NFU and Concordia issue labour warning
Agricultural labour supplier Concordia has warned that due to the implications of Brexit, workers from…
Waitrose unveils packaging made from tomatoes
Supermarket Waitrose is introducing punnets made from tomato vines for its range of Duchy Organic…
Syngenta launches Saltro fungicide seed treatment globally
Global ag. chem. company Syngenta has announced the global launch of a new SDHI-based fungicide…
Sclerotinia monitoring continues in carrots
Sclerotinia is a very serious disease of carrots, affecting yield and quality. Growers are able…
Modiform’s EcoExpert debut in TESCO
Modiform’s EcoExpert range of pots and trays made from moulded paper have their first debut…
NIAB EMR searched for non-native stink bug in fruit crops
UK scientists are carrying out field studies to check whether the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug…
Jayne Dyas leaves British Growers on a high note
Jayne Dyas, Head of Crop Associations at the British Growers Association, is to leave the…
Tim Crittenden joins Biobest UK soft fruit team
Tim Crittenden has joined Biobest UK’s soft fruit team as commercial and technical advisor, based…
Royal Wedding role for new nursery
Plants grown in the Royal Parks’ new glasshouse at the nursery in Hyde Park were…
Social media help potato sales
AHDB Potatoes says that its ‘Bud the Spud’ campaign, and its take-up on social media…
EU divided over plant breeding
An expected European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling on the use and classification of new…
Tesco to scrap Best Before dates
Tesco is to remove ‘Best Before’ dates from almost 70 fresh produce lines as it…
Area of organics in UK increases
The area of organic farmland in the United Kingdom has increased for the first time…
EU court upholds neonicotinoid ban
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has upheld the EU’s almost total ban on the…
Royal asparagus grower could fail
A Norfolk asparagus grower whose produce was served at the Royal Wedding on Saturday has…
Family fun with National Children’s Gardening week
Families can make the most of the good weather this school half term, by getting…
Desch Plantpak introduces two new ornamental pots
Colourful news fresh from the Desch-Epla factory: two completely new decorative pots that perfectly reflect…
HTA and APL members take RHS Chelsea Flower Show by storm
HTA and APL members have a huge presence at the world famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show, this…
ASDA and NIAB assessment shows positive farmer soil health action
A survey of the ASDA fresh produce supply chain has demonstrated the positive actions growers…
Huntapac spears asparagus success with Booths
Lancashire-based Huntapac Produce has speared a unique deal with Booths to be its exclusive supplier…
Major funding could get to the root of crop diseases
A world-leading plant disease researcher at the University of Dundee has been awarded major funding…
Oxney now the UK’s largest organic vineyard
Oxney Organic Estate, the organic vineyard and winery near Rye in East Sussex, has planted…
New resource for biofungicide users
With warming temperatures and rising humidity, growers wanting to reduce pesticide applications on their crops…
Agrovista renews three-year sponsorship agreement with National Fruit Show
Agrovista has signed up for a further three-year term as a major sponsor of the…
Expansion in the South-East for JD Cooling
The JD Cooling Group has announced the opening of a new regional office in the…
Jersey Royal earlies are not so early this year
FROSTY weather in late February prevented any real growth of the normally early Jersey Royal…
Professor Green to Open RHS Feel Good Garden at 2018 RHS Chelsea Flower Show
British rapper, singer and songwriter Professor Green will officially open the RHS Feel Good Garden,…
Scottish soft fruit need labour commitment
Scottish fruit grower James Porter has told Scotland’s Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing that the…
Top fruit sector calls for post-Brexit support
English Apples & Pears (EAP), the association for UK top fruit producers, has said that…
Defra consultation receives thousands of responses
Defra has received more than 44,000 responses to its consultation on farming, food and environmental…
Innocent continues its mission to improve kids healthy eating habits
Healthy drinks brand innocent announces the return of the innocent Big Grow, now in its third year. Returning this spring, the campaign…
Two new plant varieties to be launched at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show
Plants For Europe Limited (PFE) is working with Hardy’s Cottage Garden Plants to launch two…
Latest asparagus hybrids from Global Plant Genetics prove their worth in tough conditions
Guelph Eclipse and Guelph Equinox, the newest commercial asparagus hybrids to be bred at the…
BHTA 2018 Study Tour – in association with Iteipmai
The BHTA in association with Iteipmai are organising a Study Tour in France this September…
New version of Buntata mobile app announced
The James Hutton Institute’s Information and Computational Sciences group has announced a new version of…
Brexit an opportunity to rethink biosecurity needs in the UK, says Royal Horticultural Society
The UK’s withdrawal from the European Union will provide an opportunity to revise the UK’s…
New tool for powdery mildew control
Powdery mildew is notorious for impacting yield and fruit quality, and with limited control options…
Potatoes are nation’s most popular crop in first survey since second world war
Scientists from the University of Sheffield have revealed the most plentiful fruit and vegetables grown…
Research on Madagascar periwinkle uncovers pathway to cancer-fighting drugs
Plant scientists have taken the crucial last steps in a 60-year quest to unravel the…
Rural crime rise demonstrates need for immediate action
The NFU is calling for prompt, effective action to deal with the serious issue of…
Flower Trials Schoneveld Breeding in World Horti Center Naaldwijk
The theme of the Flower Trials 2018 “Where plants meet people” fits in perfectly with…
New industry guidelines on late blight following EU_37 discovery
New guidance on how the potato industry should respond to reduced fluazinam sensitivity in late…
Scout robot could revolutionise greenhouse crop protection
A new robot crop scout developed by Metazet has been nominated for a Greentech Concept…
International teams enter autonomous greenhouse challenge
Wageningen University & Research says that fifteen teams have registered to participate in its Autonomous…
NEPG predicts increased plantings for 2018
The NEPG (North-Western European Potato Growers) organisation estimates an increase of 0.4 per cent in…
Kernock Park Plants to take on South West Growers Show for 2018
The South West Growers show, established in 1974 has been run by various parties including…
Eden scent crazy as sweet and smelly flowers burst into bloom
The scent of one of the world’s smelliest plants is going head to head with…
UK fresh produce industry can grow with the right support
The British Growers Association has responded positively to the Government’s consultation on its future agricultural…
Introducing new HTA Board members
The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has announced the appointment of Matthew Bent, the Managing Director…
British Growers urges fresh produce industry to get behind Veg Power
The British Growers Association is urging the fresh produce industry to get behind the crowdfunding…
Can earthworms be used as indicators of soil health?
Can earthworms be used as indicators of soil health? This will be one of the…
New Imara® from Syngenta Flowers delivers breakthrough in impatiens walleriana
Syngenta Flowers is proud to announce the return of impatiens walleriana with the new series,…
Yorkshire horticulturalist sees life’s work immortalised with statue in his honour
BBC Look North’s Harry Gration this week helped unveil a statue commemorating horticulturalist John Richardson’s…
Potato stocks high, but marketing season may extend
The stocks of potatoes held by growers at the end of March totalled 1.3Mt according…
We have a shared farming future after Brexit, say British and European farmers
European farm leaders joined forces this morning in Brussels to stress the importance of strong…
ASDA and NIAB assessment shows positive farmer soil health action
A survey of the ASDA fresh produce supply chain has demonstrated the positive actions growers…
Regulation, agri-tech and Brexit discussed at Brussels NFU meeting
Smarter use of technology, better regulation of pesticides, and farmers’ concerns post-Brexit were on the…
Busy lizzies to return
Busy lizzies (Impatiens walleriana) are this week returning to B&Q’s retail shelves after a six-year…
Come and talk about farmer-led research with the farmers involved
This year’s Innovative Farmers Network day takes place on Wednesday 9 May 2018 at Sheepdrove…
Late Season Onion planting
With the “Beast from the East” hitting the UK in early March and then a…
Tozer Seeds welcomes Dr Geoffrey Denton to the Research & Development team
Dr Geoffrey Denton recently joined Tozer Seeds Ltd as Plant Pathologist. He will be involved…
Mechanical weed control shows promise in Canada
Faced with increasing numbers of herbicide-resistant weeds, Canadian farmers on the Prairies are tuning back…
Report says £10m a year needed to protect UK soils
A new report from WWF, The Rivers Trust and The Angling Trusts claims that spending…
AHDB Sutton Bridge launches VarietyCheck service
AHDB’s Sutton Bridge Crop Storage Research has announced the launch of a new potato storage…
Norfolk Radishes Get Underway in New Facility
Radish has been one of the fastest growing categories in UK salads in recent years…
Grower-led monitoring to add increased value to AHDB Pest Bulletin
As the Pest Bulletin is set to make its return for 2018, growers will be…
Championing horticulture at the APPGHG Inquiry
The first of three evidence sessions for the All-Party Parliamentary Gardening and Horticulture Group (APPGHG)…
RHS gardens get ready to share their passion for plants for National Gardening Week
Green fingers everywhere are twitching for the start of National Gardening Week (30 April–6 May)…
Inspire the Next Generation About Farming
Educating and engaging with young people about farming is vital for both their futures and…
Dümmen Orange presents groundbreaking rooting technology
Dümmen Orange presents Basewell™, an innovative new technology that is the next step into the…
Philips Lighting issues LED recipe for roses
Philips Lighting has unveiled its new Philips GreenPower LED toplighting with a light spectrum optimized…
Drones could spot potato virus in fields
A US scientist is investigating the potential of using aerial drones or unmanned aerial vehicles…
Syngenta acquires sweet corn breeder Abbott & Cobb
Syngenta’s US business has announced that it has acquired independent Pennsylvania-based vegetable breed and seed…
Aylsham potato grower to build new store
Norfolk-based E F Harrold Ltd of Oulton, near Aylsham, has applied for planning permission to…
Exciting new varieties from summer fruiting raspberry trials
AHDB Horticulture is highlighting the benefits of variety trials on new raspberry varieties funded by…
New Vice-Chairman for Leek Growers Association
The Leek Growers Association has a new Vice Chairman, Stewart Aspinall of Farringtons Ltd in…
New resources launched for LEAF Open Farm Sunday hosts
Ahead of LEAF Open Farm Sunday (10th June), organisers LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) has…
AHDB’s Potatoes and Cereals Knowledge Exchange teams join forces
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has taken a significant step to improve its…
New nematicide e-learning course launched
The potato industry is being urged to take part in a free interactive e-learning course…
Claims Defra preparing for 25% of UK farms to ‘disappear’
According to an advisor from Cardiff University who is advising the Welsh Government, Defra is…
Tesco free fruit scheme hits 50 million mark
Tesco says that it has now given more than 50 million pieces of free fruit…
Monsanto brings gene-editing to strawberries
Multinational agribusiness Monsanto has invested $125 million in agricultural start-up Pairwise to leverage gene editing…
Could micro magnets detect pesticides?
Researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed a novel way of detecting…
Calls for EA to monitor farms with drones
It has been suggested that drones could be utilised by the Environment Agency to monitor…
ASDA celebrates 1000th tonne of carrots saved from waste
Last month, Asda put its 1000th tonne of ‘wonky’ carrots on the shelf – attesting…
Colin Hutchinson
The news from the Eastern Counties, that Colin Hutchinson has died will leave a huge…
Plants Really Do Feed Their Friends
Berkeley Lab researchers prove complex connection between plants and what soil microbes eat. Researchers at…
PhD opportunities in the fruit sector
NIAB EMR is currently offering a unique batch of six PhD studentships covering a wide…
Biobest UK appoints Simon Jones as Phil Walker retires
Biobest UK’s General Manager Phil Walker, a leading figure in the UK biological control industry…
Red Tractor Assurance to launch TV advertising campaign
Red Tractor Assurance will have its own national television advertising campaign later this year for…
Staffordshire root growers invest thanks to Aldi
6th generation Staffordshire farmers R & RW Bartlett have announced an expansion and eco-friendly investment…
Lack of labour could kill Scottish fruit sector
A survey of Scottish farmers and growers has indicated that two-thirds of them may quit…
Defra struggling to cope with Brexit workload
Concerns about the ability of Defra to cope with the extra volume of work being…
Growers get early warning for when to harvest Gala apples
A new method to help UK growers identify the best Gala fruit to pick for…
Tribute to Helmut Kientzler
Helmut Kientzler, one of the owners of the Kientzler/InnovaPlant group of companies, passed away unexpectedly…
James Crawford awarded Markham-Colegrave International Scholarship Student
As part of the David Colegrave Foundation (DCF) Scholarship season, James Crawford who is currently…
Emma McFarline receives Floranova Scholarship
Horticultural student Emma McFarline is this year’s recipient of the Floranova Scholarship, awarded by the…
Potato stock levels and ‘drawdown’ at record levels
Potato stock levels reached a record 2.4 million tonnes in January – up 25 per…
Controlled deficit irrigation for tomatoes
A three year study has been carried out at the University of Seville to reduce…
Essex wine growers launch campaign to trademark their award-winning wines
Essex vineyards have initiated a bid to trademark the region’s name. The county’s growers are…
Water conservation agent trials show potato yield increase
Using a water conservation agent can significantly increase potato yields, while reducing irrigation water use…
Geographical protection for asparagus to continue after Brexit
Geographical protection of products such as Vale of Evesham Asparagus, which is currently provided under…
EU extends school fruit and veg scheme
The European Commission has published information on the uptake of its scheme to supply free…
Farmers to get soil health targets
Civil servants have revealed that the Government’s agricultural bill, which is expected to be published…
Hoverflies offer dual benefit to strawberry growers
UK strawberry growers should encourage more hoverflies into their crops as they act as both…
HTA Board statement on Chairman
The HTA Board have announced that Chris Pateman has left his post as Chairman of…
HTA introduces Recycling Scheme for members
The HTA has launched a Recycling Scheme for its members which will enable businesses of…
GCA opens investigation into Co-op
Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) Christine Tacon has launched an investigation into Co-operative Group Limited, believing…
Baby leaf harvesting and sorting machine unveiled
What is claimed to be the world’s first baby leaf harvester with automatic sorting capabilities…
NIAB EMR researchers at Westminster stem event
NIAB EMR represented plant sciences and the fruit growing sector at the Palace of Westminster,…
Farmacy acquisition of Allium & Brassica Agronomy and the Allium & Brassica Centre
Farmacy plc, a national independent agronomy advice company, has purchased Allium & Brassica Agronomy Ltd and…
Ali Capper is new executive chair at EAP
Worcestershire grower Ali Capper has been announced as the new executive chair of trade organisation…
Grocery market ‘buoyant’
The latest information release by Kantar Worldpanel, for the 12 weeks to 25 February 2018…
Nurseryman Steve Chapman joins ICL’s technical sales team
Experienced nurseryman Steve Chapman has joined ICL’s expanding Professional Horticulture team as technical area sales…
New appointment at Fargro
Fargro is pleased to announce the appointment of Anthony Surrage to the position of Technical…
Sercadis has a new EAMU in grapevines
Sercadis the most powerful SDHI fungicide, Xemium, can now be used in grapevines for the…
Patience needed ahead of potato planting
Patience will be key this potato season as the recent cold weather threatens to delay…
New Chairman for British Onions
Tim Elcombe of Bedfordshire Growers has been elected as the new Chairman of British Onions.…
Fargro acquires ornamental horticulture division of Agrovista UK Limited
Fargro Ltd, a wholesaler and supplier of commercial horticultural products including fertilisers, growing media, pots,…
Bayer to sell Nunhems to get Monsanto deal through
Following rumours last month, Bayer has confirmed that it plans to sell of vegetable breeding…
Purple potatoes reduce colon cancer risk
Scientists at Pennsylvania State University have found that a diet rich in colourful fruits and…
Eating fruit and veg. combats depression
US scientists have said that a diet which emphasises the consumption of vegetables, fruit and…
UK grown cucumbers show promise as planting area continues to grow
The arrival of the first UK-grown cucumbers each year is a well-celebrated event these days.…
AHDB seeking two new members
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has said it is seeking applications for two…
NFU elects new officeholder team
Minette Batters has been elected as the new President of the National Farmers’ Union. Ms…
Horticulture and Agriculture students’ study trip to Spain
Horticulture and Agriculture students have learnt more about the commercial production and exportation of tomatoes…
New lettuces from Bayer to cover the supply calendar
Bayer’s new range of Nunhems® brand lettuces have been bred to offer growers versatile varieties…
New Guelph asparagus hybrids sell out
The latest asparagus hybrids from the well-renowned program based in Canada have proven popular with…
Strawberry genetics discovery could improve yields
American scientists say they have identified the key gene in strawberry plants which regulates berry…
CN Seeds could move to Europe
Ely-based plant breeder CN Seeds has told reporters that it could relocate to mainland Europe…
Bejo and Limagrain sign licensing deal for vegetable traits
Leading vegetable breeding companies Bejo Zaden and Limagrain (through its Vilmorin subsidiary) have announced a…
Scientists to build brassica robot
Scientists at the University of Plymouth are developing new robotic technology which they hope could…
Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme
The most recent ‘NFU Labour survey’ reported an enormous 29% shortfall in seasonal farm labour…
Strong yields for GB potato seed sent to Kenya for trials
GB potato seed sent out to Kenya has performed strongly on three Kenyan trial sites.…
GB potato stocks up 23 per cent on previous season
AHDB has announced that GB potato stock levels for the end of November are estimated…
Major fruit grower moves growing to China
Haygrove from Ledbury, Herefordshire, is moving part of its raspberry and blueberry production to China…
Organic produce is in demand: UK organic market celebrates sixth year of growth
The Soil Association’s 2018 Organic Market Report, launched 7 February, reveals the UK organic market is…
Berry Gardens to use shelf life technology
Berry and stone fruit marketing organisation Berry Gardens has signed an arrangement with technology company…
Southern England Farms trials English workers
Cornish-based vegetable grower Southern England Farms has taken part in the BBC programme Inside Out…
Sales double at juice firm
Juice producer The Juice Executive says that sales have doubled in the last year with…
New ‘Tomato Expression Atlas’ dives deep into the fruit’s flesh
Researchers have published a ‘spatiotemporal map’ of gene expression for all tissues and all the…
Future mobile and broadband technology must deliver for farming
The Government has to ensure every farming business can access next generation superfast broadband and…
Event at Eden to look at future of honey bees
An event organised in response to increased interest in native and heritage honey bees is…
Yorkshire grower launches vodka business
A Yorkshire grower has already won a prestigious award for his new potato vodka before…
Plants increase flower production within a day of soil nutrient application
The molecular mechanisms which enable plants to quickly adapt their rate of flower production in…
New PCN calculator unveiled
Researchers working on a project supported by AHDB Potatoes hope they will be able to…
HTA Seminar – GDPR: How will it affect my business?
With the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) coming into force on 25 May 2018 the…
Want to boost your learning potential?
That is just what a scholarship or bursary award from the David Colegrave Foundation can…
AHDB commits £5m to fix ‘fragmented’ farming innovation pipeline
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) is committing £5m to fund Britain’s next generation…
ICL expands technical sales team
The speciality agriculture division of ICL has announced the appointment of a new technical sales…
Scottish soft fruit growers missed out on £625,000 last year
Nineteen growers based in Perthshire, Angus and Fife, represented by Angus Growers Ltd, calculate that…
Light-splitting film could increase yields
Engineers at the University of Colorado at Boulder have received funding from the U.S. Department…
New EU guidance on potato tuber pest
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Panel on Plant Health has categorised the Guatemalan potato…
Dutch ag. exports reach record high
According to the latest statistics from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) and Wageningen Economic Research, Dutch exports…
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall calls for veg marketing fund
Television chef and food campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has called for an advertising fund dedicated to…
Should gene edited crops be exempt from GMO rules?
The European court’s Advocate General has determined that organisms derived by gene editing technologies are…
Five months left to collect BASIS Professional Register points
BASIS Professional Register members are being reminded that there are just five months left until…
Killinchy salad producer secures extra €2.5m order from RoI
A NORTHERN Ireland producer of bagged salads has secured an extra €2.5m (£2.21m) worth of…
New members added to the Beekenkamp Group’s executive board
The Beekenkamp Group, located in Maasdijk, will effect changes in the composition of its executive…
Light4Food reinforces the Priva partner network with indoor growing
Light4Food and Priva have responded to the rapid increase in the number of indoor growing…
Exciting new appointment to lead Hutchinsons Marketing Team
Crop Production specialists Hutchinsons has appointed Nick Rainsley as Head of Marketing. Mr Rainsley will…
Garden industry welcomes Defra 25-Year Environment Plan
There are a lot of actions which will benefit horticulture and suggestions of working together…
Albert Bartlett profits hit by price pressures
Airdrie based potato firm, Albert Bartlett’s latest accounts show their operating profit was affected by…
Seed breeders say impact of Brexit not appreciated
Representatives of the seed industry have told the Fresh Produce Journal that Defra has shown…
PRGO to hold pea and bean crop protection course
PGRO will hold its next course on Pea & Bean Crop Protection at its will…
Agricultural fungicide attracts honey bees
Researchers at America’s University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have found that when given the choice,…
Colman’s to close Norwich factory
It was announced in early January by Colman’s owners, Unilever, that the site at Carrow…
Bristol vertical farm opens
Bristol-based start up company LettUs Grow, which attracted funding via Crowfunder, has completed the installation…
Engineers make wearable sensors for plants
Scientists at Iowa State University in the United States are developing graphene-based, sensors-on-tape that can…
Haith to showcase small-batch potato cleaner at LAMMA
Haith will unveil the latest version of its batch process washing system for root and…
UK less attractive destination for foreign workers
The UK is less attractive as a global destination for workers following the Brexit vote…
Panasonic unveils tomato picking robot
Last month at Tokyo’s International Robot Exhibition, electronics giant Panasonic showcased an agricultural robot which…
2019 Nuffield Farming Scholarship applications open
The Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust is pleased to announce that the application process for 2019…
Red Tractor founder awarded CBE in New Year Honours list
David Clarke, a founding member of Red Tractor Assurance, has been honoured with a CBE…
NFU President’s New Year message
NFU President Meurig Raymond said: “As we look ahead to the next year, we will…
NIAB chief Tina Barsby awarded OBE in New Year’s Honours List
Dr Tina Barsby, CEO of Cambridge-based crop science organisation NIAB, has been awarded an OBE…
New plant protection product approved for use in record time
UK herb growers will be able to protect their crops with a new weed control…
Bio control project produces new virus to fight tomato leaf miner
The EU’s BIOCOMES project, which was coordinated by Wageningen University & Research (WUR), and which…
Greater transparency needed for potato growers, new NFU report highlights
Potato packers and processors can drive the sector forward by providing greater levels of information…
UK grocery growth fuelled by healthy eating
The latest data from market research company Nielsen shows a split between demand for the…
Fruit Logistica report focuses on digital future
Fruit Logistica, the leading trade show for the fresh produce industry, says that digital communication…
New Covent Garden predicts product trends for 2018
According to New Covent Garden, in terms of fresh produce, black will be the new…
Strong festive sales for soft fruit
British soft fruit, and red berries such as strawberries and raspberries in particular, are becoming…
Tozer Seeds welcomes Isobel Tickner to the Product Development team
Tozer Seeds is pleased to announce that Isobel Tickner has recently joined the company, as…
Red Tractor fresh produce standards to be recognised by Tesco and GLOBAL G.A.P.
Fresh produce grown on Red Tractor assured farms is to be recognised as equivalent to…
N.I. potato farmers report one of the worst harvests ever
Potato farmers in Northern Ireland say they encountered one of the worst harvests ever this…
LEAF appoints new chairman
LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) has announced the appointment of new chairman, Philip Wynn, taking…
Another EAMU as a result if SCEPTRE project
UK vegetable growers have a new extension of authorisation for minor use (EAMU) for the…
UK top league of European 5-a-day
A new study conducted by Kantar TNS on behalf of the Norwegian Fruit & Vegetable…
Using garlic to tackle strawberry mildew
Growers are adopting the use of garlic-based crop protection products in the fight against strawberry…
Morrisons selling giant apples
Supermarket Morrisons is selling giant Braeburn apples, due to the high quantity of larger than…
Intra-row weeding possible with vision systems
Researchers of Wageningen University & Research, BU Greenhouse horticulture, developed weeding machines which are able…
Work underway to tackle food waste
Early WRAP research published at the end of September highlights the significant financial, environmental and…
New edition of Knowing & Recognizing
‘Knowing and recognizing’, Koppert’s renewed reference book on pests and their biological solutions was launched…
Chris Pateman appointed as HTA Chair
The HTA has announced the appointment of Chris Pateman as the chair of the association.…
Integrated approach is key to crop pest management
Farmers must ensure they use all the options available to them to combat pests, weeds…
Albury Vineyard Unveils New Branding and Logo
Albury Vineyard has launched a smart new logo and website this month. The organic vineyard…
Farmers warned of fake maps on Apps
The NFU has warned farmers and growers to check online apps for ‘fake footpaths’ after…
Sainsbury’s wants new product ideas from produce suppliers
Sainsbury’s has asked its suppliers to bring forward ideas for new products and innovations as…
Californian lettuce growers embracing robotic harvesting
One of America’s largest salad producers, California-based Taylor Farms, is increasingly using robotics to tackle…
Expanding UK wine industry
The UK wine industry is going from strength to strength, with one million vines planted…
Danziger to intrigue visitors at the Aalsmeer trade fair
Visitors who walked around the different booth and displays in Aalsmeer were surprised to see…
Look out for lettuce Fusarium wilt
An outbreak of an aggressive disease has been reported in UK glasshouse lettuce crops for…
Homebase says no to bee-harming pesticides
Friends of the Earth has welcomed Homebase’s commitment to stop using neonicotinoids on garden plants,…
NFU responds to EU labour claims
The National Farmers’ Union has written to The Times to dispute the impression given by…
Rural Payments Agency confirms BPS 2017
The Government has claimed that British farmers will see a boost in basic payments this…
Launch of the Stewart Garden Schools Programme 2018
Stewart Garden is pleased to announce the launch of The Stewart Garden Schools Programme 2018.…
Soil Association launches online Christmas marketplace for organic businesses
Organic growers and farmers are being given the chance to connect with new customers thanks…
The FoodTalk Awards are back!
If you’re doing something fresh and fabulous in food, drink, technology or packaging, you need…
International Blackcurrant Association visit Poland
Anthony Snell, one of the UK’s largest soft fruit growers and president of the International…
A breakthrough in Emergency Authorisations
A novel approach to granting derogations has been introduced for the first time via an…
Nicholas Marston takes over Chairmanship of British Summer Fruits
At the annual general meeting of British Summer Fruits in November, Nicholas Marston was elected…
Pea and Bean Conference comes at crucial time for industry
This year’s UK Vining Pea and Bean Industry Conference comes at a crucial time for…
Giant bees buzz Homebase over neonicotinoid pesticides
Giant Friends of the Earth bees visited a Homebase store in Wandsworth on Monday 13 November…
Topical and informative presentations praised at GrowQuip 2017
Delegates were unanimous in their praise for the speaker line-up, interesting and varied content and…
Environment Secretary plans environmental watchdog
Defra secretary Michael Gove has said he wants to set up a new watchdog for…
One step closer to crops with twice the yield
Scientists from Wageningen University & Research (WUR) who have identified natural genetic variation for photosynthesis…
Nearly half of all fresh potatoes thrown away
UK waste advisory body WRAP has launched a new campaign, Save Our Spuds, to increase…
New CEO at NSure
Arno van de Kant started as Chief Executive Officer at NSure on 1st November 2017.…
AHDB helping growers address Brexit labour challenges
Growers concerned about the future availability and affordability of labour are being urged to join…
Launch of new fungicide at BP 2017 ALLSTAR for in-furrow treatment of potatoes
BASF are launching the first SDHI fungicide for in-furrow treatment of Rhizoctonia solani in potatoes.…
Moving beyond high yield as measure of success
Agri-Tech East and the AHDB have announced a joint initiative to accelerate the adoption of…
CLA says Brexit “is great opportunity” for farming
The CLA has called for a dedicated strategy which targets investment in supporting farmers to…
North-west European potato harvest estimate rises
The North-Western European Potato Growers (NEPG) group has increased its estimate for the region’s potato…
SanLucar and Paddington Bear come together in Germany & Austria
SanLucar and Paddington Bear launch a new campaign to animate children to eat fruit on…
LEAF Open Farm Sunday 2018
With registrations for LEAF Open Farm Sunday 2018 open, organiser LEAF has announced a new…
World’s smallest tomato introduced in US
At the recent PMA Fresh Summit in New Orleans, it was announced that NatureFresh™ Farms…
Thanet Earth completes sixth greenhouse
Kent-based Thanet Earth has competed construction of the sixth greenhouse on its site near Birchington.…
Supermarket apps are new retail battleground
Mobile data platform Ogury has announced a new study which uses data analysis from mobile…
Plaguing insects with bittersweet tastes to protect crops
Scientists are developing a new pest control technique which uses their feeding preferences against them.…
Tesco pledges to back British farmers
Tesco has underlined its commitment to British horticulture by becoming the first of the ‘Big…
New promotional campaign to promote leeks launches
A new promotional campaign designed to encourage more consumers to eat fresh British leeks launches…
American blueberry grower solves bird problem with laser technology
Justin Meduri, Farm Operations Manager of Meduri Farms has a 168 acres blueberry farm that suffered…
BerryWorld creates Spanish subsidiary
The BerryWorld group has expanded its PrepWorld subsidiary to Spain, creating what it says is…
Waitrose expands recipe box trial
Following a successful trial, Waitrose is extending the roll-out of its Cook Well from Waitrose…
New CEO for HM. Clause
HM.Clause has announced the appointment of Rémi Bastien as its new Chief Executive Officer, from…
Are dogs the future of pest detection?
Large Canadian greenhouse grower NatureFresh™ Farms has adopted a novel approach to pest management: using…
Scottish growers depend on migrants
A television documentary has helped the Scottish soft fruit industry highlight the importance of migrant…
Innovative new uses for living walls
Innovative new uses for living walls – the increasing fashion for which is creating aesthetically-pleasing…
50 years of experience in free Hoogendoorn & Koppert webinar
The year 2017 is a special year for Koppert Biological Systems and Hoogendoorn Growth Management,…
AHDB launches management training scheme
To develop management skills in farming, AHDB has opened applications for a Professional Manager Development…
Jam-packed agenda for soft fruit event
A new device to monitor western flower thrips, latest research on spotted wing drosophila (SWD)…
New bespoke soft fruit sprayer for Norfolk strawberry grower
R W Walpole Ltd is a long-established business propagating a wide variety of soft fruit…
New Gray & Adams blast chiller installed at Leadketty Farm
Perthshire strawberry grower Leadketty Farm turned to Gray & Adams to ensure that local customers…
Mount Stuart launches Horticulture Apprentice Scheme
Mount Stuart, in partnership with University of Highlands and Islands – Argyll College apprenticeship scheme,…
Philips Lighting signs deal with Glinwell PLC
Philips Lighting has announced that Glinwell PLC, a UK producer of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and…
National pumpkin grower creates ‘gourd’ way to grow plant business
A family-owned fruit and vegetable business that produces almost two million pumpkins a year to…
Morrisons’ veg boxes proving popular
Supermarket Morrisons has launched two new value veg boxes, one priced at £3 (although it…
Still places on RPA/EA workshop on reservoir grants
The UK Irrigation Association has highlighted that there are still places on the next joint…
Riverford seek growers to join three Innovative Farmers field labs
Veg box pioneers Riverford are supporting farmer-led innovation by sponsoring three Innovative Farmers field labs,…
New varieties to be launched at National Fruit Show
Visitors to this year’s National Fruit Show are set to be bedazzled by two new…
Buxton wholesaler given grant to expand
Family owned fresh produce wholesaler Tomson (Buxton) Ltd has been awarded a grant of £16,724…
Construction begins on new Berry Gardens packhouse
Construction has begun on Berry Gardens’ new £18 million packing facility at Linton, near Maidstone…
New training course on minimising pesticide residues
Ian Finlayson, CEO of Practical Solutions International Ltd, is to run a new course for…
HSE hardens stance as potato harvest inspections continue
Farmers putting themselves and their workers’ health and safety in jeopardy throughout the potato harvest…
“Blemish-free” apple rules relaxed by Tesco
Many growers faced the prospect of having to discard apples that had been hit by…
New vegetable products from Mash Direct
A Northern Ireland vegetable farm and processor has come up with some new products to…
Red Tractor Assurance recruits Sue Lockhart
Red Tractor Assurance has appointed Sainsbury’s former head of agriculture Sue Lockhart as its new…
Innovative farmers take pioneering approach to improve soils in shared rotations
Three forward thinking arable and horticultural farmers, who each grow different crops in a shared…
Plenty of developments at the fourth Seed meets Technology conference
The fourth meeting of the international seed event, Seed meets Technology, received a similar number…
Key speakers at The National Fruit Show
Minette Batters, deputy president of the National Farmers Union, is officially opening this year’s National…
New sponsor for The National Fruit Show
Around 90 organisations, businesses and companies are booked into this year’s National Fruit Show –…
Scottish farm debt hits record level
Scottish farmers owe more money to banks than at any time since records began in…
Latest statistics show mixed fortunes for UK horticulture
Defra’s annual summary of UK horticulture shows mixed fortunes for the vegetable, fruit and ornamental…
Is organic production better for the climate?
A new study by The National Soil Project at Northeastern University in the United States,…
UK ornamentals market grows almost 5%
According to the latest official UK horticultural statistics published by Defra, in 2016 the ornamentals…
UK apple growers approaching labour ‘cliff edge’
As the British apple season gets into full swing, producers have reiterated concerns about the…
Vineyard workers urged to take care during grape harvest
As abundant bunches of sweet juicy grapes start to ripen in the late summer sun,…
Osmocote – 50 years of nutrition excellence
ICL is celebrating 50 years of nutrition excellence with Osmocote controlled release fertilizer (CRF), and…
New state-of-the-art glasshouse for Hadlow College
Hadlow College, which runs a unique (BSc Hons) degree in production horticulture, is set to…
New panel members sought to help steer horticultural industry
AHDB Horticulture is currently seeking applications from growers to join their crop sector panels for…
Union Fleurs 2017 General Assembly in Poland
The General Assembly of Union Fleurs, the International Flower Trade Association, was organised this year…
New President for the HTA
Adam Taylor from Taylors Bulbs was elected as President of the HTA at the Association’s…
Helios – thinking outside the box
Hutchinsons are proud of the excellent specialist service they provide to fruit growers, but they…
Farm Frites launches sweet potato fries
Dutch-based Farm Frites has added a new sweet potato French fry to its range, claiming…
Proposed new fees for plant inspections
The Fresh Produce Consortium has reported that Animal and Plant Health Agency in England and…
CRISPR technology used to change flower colour
Japanese scientists have used the revolutionary CRISPR, or CRISPR/Cas9, genome-editing tool to change flower colour…
Tenth UK Onion & Carrot Conference
The biennial UK Onion & Carrot conference will take place on Tuesday 14th November 2017…
France won’t back glyphosate renewal
According to Reuters, a French environment official has confirmed that the country will oppose extending…
Dow and DuPont complete merger
Multinational chemical companies Dow and DuPont have finalised their $130 billion merger, with the new…
All-new Landini orchard/vineyard tractors for National Fruit Show
An all-new range of Landini orchard and vineyard tractors will be launched at the National…
RAU vice-chancellor says farming must shed ‘tweedy’ image
The vice-chancellor of the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) at Cirencester, Joanna Price, has said that…
Genesis Plant Marketing Limited launch new website
Genesis have undertaken a complete revamp of their website in recent months to ensure they…
Exploring future opportunities for automation in horticulture
A research survey that will establish the current level of use of automation and robotics…
EU launches consultation on ‘fairer food supply chain’
The European Commission is launching an EU-wide public consultation on how to make the EU…
British Summer Fruits comments on latest migration figures
British Summer Fruits has warned that the latest official net migration figures from the Office…
Third of horticulture businesses ‘unviable’ without EU labour
A new landmark study from the UK food and drink supply chain suggests that up…
Scab continues to be a concern for packing crops
According to AHDB Potatoes, scab continues to be a concern for crops of packing potatoes…
Prolectus® – a Botryticide with just the right pedigree
Agrii fruit specialist Julian Searle expects a lot from any new chemistry and he says…
NFU Mutual offer bursaries for agricultural students
For the third time, NFU Mutual is offering bursaries of £3,000 to four students starting…
Steven Munday leaves English Apples and Pears
English Apples and Pears (EAP) have announced the resignation of CEO Steven Munday. During his…
Southern Salads in administration
Southern Salads, the Kent based grower and supplier of salad products to the supermarkets, restaurant…
Simon Fraser appointed to HTA Board
Simon Fraser, Managing Director of Ben Reid & Co in Aberdeen, has been appointed to…
MDF Coverpot now available in new sizes
The plant pots in the MDF Coverpot series from Pöppelmann TEKU® have an internal rim…
Increasing biorational efficacy at Four Oaks
With ornamental growers being under increasing industry and consumer pressure to implement more sustainable practices,…
Florette announces acquisition of My Fresh – Wigan
As part of its vision to be a major player within the UK fresh produce…
New fears over use of sulphur for crop protection
A new study has linked the spraying of elemental sulphur for crop protection with asthma…
Tesco expands prepared produce with new lines
Supermarket Tesco has launched several new lines in its range of prepared fresh produce, which…
Adding silicon to soil to strengthen plant defences
Researchers at the University of Delaware and the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment at Western…
The key to drought-tolerant crops may be in the leaves
A solution to help farmers to grow crops in dry areas or during stretches of…
New mating disruption technique offers hope for Tuta absoluta control
Trials funded by AHDB Horticulture have discovered a synthetic sex pheromone that confuses male Tuta…
Seminars to tackle holistic production & IPM
An holistic approach to plant production – optimising nutrition and employing sustainable crop protection -…
Netherlands publishes atlas for pesticides in groundwater
The Netherlands has recently published a new Groundwater Atlas for Pesticides, which will be used…
Blackberries could be latest UK berry craze
Blackberry sales are currently growing at around 20 per cent per year and British growers…
European produce industry publishes Brexit report
The European Fresh Produce Association, Freshfel, has published a position paper on the Impact of…
Brit wants to compete with Dutch flower monopoly
For many years the Dutch auction system at Aalsmeer, and Royal FloraHolland in particular, has…
Scots urged to consume more vegetables in their diet
UK consumers are not eating enough vegetables according to new data which suggested they are…
Soil & water smart tech at Agri-Tech East & Smart-AKIS event
“Soil underpins the vast majority of agribusinesses in the UK,” says Professor Jane Rickson of…
Bumper fruit year coincides with labour shortages
Excellent growing conditions have provided a bumper crop of UK soft fruit this season, but…
Apples top the fresh produce charts
Trade magazine Fresh Produce Journal has announced that dessert apples have once again topped its…
Late season cherries could be profitable
A report by 2016 Nuffield Scholar Jan Redpath of Angus Soft Fruits suggests that late…
Garden retailers sign up to industry Xylella statement
Following an emergency Xylella meeting held last week at the HTA, garden retailers have signed…
Large organic farm in Ireland sold for £15.6 million
The Grianan Estate in Donegal is one of Europe’s largest organic farms. 2,400 acres in…
Breeders association working to ensure smooth Brexit process
The International Association of Breeders of Asexually Reproduced Ornamental and Fruit Varieties (CIOPORA) has said…
Scottish scientists looking for native blueberry variety
Scientists at the James Hutton Institute (JHI) at Invergowrie near Dundee are working to develop…
Sell out first Hort Science Live event
Created by ICL and Bayer, the first Hort Science Live event proved to be a…
Anthea McIntyre MEP to deliver keynote speech at GrowQuip 2017
Following the successful first conference in 2016, the Commercial Horticultural Association will once again be…
Fogging with eloclear transforms packhouse hygiene
Ozo Innovations (Ozo) has announced the application of eloclear by fogging, to improve packhouse hygiene. …
New plant protection products identified to help ornamental growers
The results from a three-year crop protection project have identified several effective novel chemical products…
Great news for apricot fans as first British fruit of the year hits Tesco stores
Apricot lovers are in for the sweetest of summers this year, after Tesco announced it…
Major funding for new crop sciences research centre announced
The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has announced funding of over £30m for…
Plants use calcium to convey internal warning of attacking aphids
Scientists at the John Innes Centre have discovered how plants send internal warning signals in…
New rose launched at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show
Fryer’s Roses, part of the Blue Diamond Group of garden centres, (which is the third…
Tesco will take surplus cherries from suppliers
Having already helped suppliers sell larger than forecast quantities of strawberries, lettuce and carrots, the…
New standard for cardboard produce packaging
A new European-wide packaging standard for corrugated packaging aims to ensure standards for stackable, top…
McCain Scarborough expansion approved by local council
McCain Foods has had its plans for a £100 million expansion of its potato processing…
Record sales for Scottish strawberries
According to press reports, ‘record quantities of Scottish strawberries are being sold this summer.’ The…
New app is the bee’s knees in national drive to understand bumblebees’ needs
Members of the public are being urged to play a part in helping scientists understand…
Sainsbury’s Launches Edible Flower Range
Summer is well and truly underway and as temperatures soar, Instagram has come up smelling…
New app available for the control of Phytophthora in potato
Wageningen University & Research and Agrifirm have cooperated in the development of a new Phytophthora…
Waitrose launches new cherry ad
Waitrose is launching the latest instalment in its award-winning brand campaign, giving customers the chance…
UK Wine Industry Votes to Form One Unified Body
The two organisations within the UK wine industry, United Kingdom Vineyards Association and English Wine Producers, voted…
HTA Board finalises structure review
Following a review carried out over the last few months, the HTA Board has decided…
Freshfields chooses Canycom for mowing
For some time now, Hereford soft fruit grower, Freshfields, has been looking for an easier,…
Sainsbury’s predicting 700% boost in strawberry sales
Supermarket Sainsbury’s has revealed that during the four months of summer, strawberries are its most…
Berryworld gives away raspberries at Wimbledon
Soft fruit supplier Berryworld has sought to raise the profile of its own brand berries,…
Potato industry reacts to acrylamide regulations
The European Commission has asked for comments on proposals on ‘benchmark’ levels for acrylamide which…
New flexible training opportunities for agri-food professionals
A new AgriFood Training Partnership (AFTP) has been launched which claims to build on the…
Glyphosate ban would cost British farmers almost £1billion a year
Worrying new figures released by leading economic research house Oxford Economics and agriculture specialists The…
UK’s first naturally coloured sparkling cider now available
Biddenden Vineyards has announced the launch of the UK’s first naturally coloured sparkling cider, Red…
University wine receives international recognition
The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) is preparing to launch its very own white wine, Cotswold…
Old apple varieties could provide important health benefits
Researchers from Cranfield University and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew have constructed the metabolic fingerprint…
LEAF and FACE merger confirmed
The merger between two of the leading farming and food educational charities, LEAF (Linking Environment…
Johnsons plant takes Silver at National Plant Show
Johnsons of Whixley Garden Centre Sales, part of the Johnsons of Whixley Group, has enhanced…
Hydroponic internships available in South Wales
A studentship is available to work with Phytoponics and Aberystwyth University, giving the successful applicant…
New technology could cut strawberry waste
A new filter which absorbs and locks in ethylene in enclosed spaces, such as retail…
Wholesalers concerned about effects of hot weather
According to reports, some wholesalers have expressed concern about the recent spate of hot, dry…
New Fieldloader options make transportation easier
Tong Engineering has announced a number of new design options for its Fieldloader in-field grader…
Drop in seasonal workers leaves some farms critically short
The number of seasonal workers coming to work on British farms has dropped 17%, leaving some farms…
Thousands take part in Great British Bee Count
More than 15,000 people have so far taken part in Friends of the Earth’s Great…
New product announced for caterpillar control in ornamentals and root crops
Certis has announced the launch of an exciting new biorational product Agree 50 WG, which…
Apple genome sequence helpful to breeding new apple varieties
A high-quality genome sequence of apple has been published in Nature Genetics by an international…
Water conservation aid helps root development in strawberries
A recent trial has shown that mixing water with the conservation agent, H2Flo from ICL,…
NFU clashes with WWF at Nuffield Conference
NFU vice-president Guy Smith clashed with WWF-UK’s food policy manager Duncan Williamson at last week’s…
Poupart re-launches Ravenhill brand
Poupart Produce used the recent London Produce Show to re-launch its premium ‘Ravenhill’ brand of…
Combating weeds with lasers
Researchers from the University of Bonn in Germany are working in a system which would…
European organic association formed
A new European association for traders and processors of organics has been formed. The Organic…
Philips Lighting begins largest LED horticultural lighting project in the world
Philips Lighting has announced that it will provide LLC Agro-Invest, Russia’s most innovative greenhouse produce company, with…
Improve knowledge of biopesticides to improve efficacy
A lack of knowledge about biopesticides is leading to inefficient application by growers and reducing…
Young Pea Chef of the Year finalists selected
Ten children from across the UK have been selected as finalists in the 2017 Young…
Re-sealable salad bags help customers cut food waste
Shoppers are to be given a helping hand to reduce food waste thanks to Tesco’s…
Mulberry Charlotte Russe Chelsea Plant of the Year
Compact dwarf mulberry tree Morus rotundiloba CHARLOTTE RUSSE (‘Matsunaga’), has been awarded the coveted title of RHS…
Microgreen Study Shows Health Benefits
Microgreens” are tender young plants grown from the seed of certain herb, vegetable, and grain…
Lions test for Alternaria spray timing
Potato growers who traditionally start Alternaria prevention treatments to coincide with the second week of…
Biologists find missing link for the ‘safe’ signal in plants
The hormone jasmonic acid plays a major role in the plant immune system and in…
Labour providers struggling to source migrant workers
Brexit uncertainties are forcing the UK’s vital migrant labour force to look for work opportunities…