Inefficient systems limiting soft-fruit efficiency 
 
The UK soft-fruit industry is being held back by a plethora of inefficient production systems and should follow the leads of US and Spanish growers, according to a sector expert.

David Johnston of Well-Pict European Marketing, who has worked in the sector since the 1970s, told the Soft Fruit Conference in Ashford: "Here in the UK, we probably use as wide a range of technologies to achieve our season as there are throughout the rest of the world."

He proposed that processes of production should be reviewed and that the UK models its development on fewer, more highly-tuned production systems. "Both Californian and Spanish growers in the majority use one of two techniques, a narrow bed or a wide bed. A lack of precision bed making techniques in the UK is limiting variety development, irrigation efficiency and very critically picking accuracy and efficiency" Johnston said.

He added that variety development is at a cross-roads in this country. "There are certainly some fantastic looking varieties, some with good flavour, some with good shelf life and some with high yields. If breeders want to charge me $250,000 for a variety or want to charge a fruit royalty then we want the service that goes with the product elsewhere in the world the agronomic details or growing blueprint."

Johnston also said that pest and disease control technologies need to be analysed on a pan-European basis. "The use has to have a critical mass to justify the development of technology in this field" he explained. "Berry growers need to look at the products they are competing against for a sale and not other berry products, for example the effort that goes into making grapes, citrus and bananas the stiff competition they are."

"Technology has and will continue to open production and marketing opportunities. We [Well-Pict European] now take raspberry from Scotland, England, Spain and Portugal whereas five years ago we would have needed at least three other sources to maintain 52-week supply. The change is through the adoption and adaptation of techniques and new varieties. This is a trend we see developing for sales to the UK and for opening new sales throughout Europe and further afield".

December 2nd 2003