This February, members of the Under 40s Fruit Growers group will be flying to Chile for their biennial conference. There, they will have the opportunity to look at many different fruit crops, including some that we don’t normally grow in the UK – such as avocados and table grapes. Given that the only hot place I’ll be venturing to this winter will be a hot yoga studio (where, by the way, I hope to find the Fountain of Youth) I can’t help but think that life really isn’t fair. But, as the group’s chairwoman Emily Cliff reminds me, the Under 40s group and its conferences have a very important role to play. “Working on a farm can be quite isolating and there’s not always a clear management structure in place. So, if you are an ambitious person working in fruit its often very difficult to know where to turn. Whilst you might have learned a lot from your colleagues, its invaluable to be able to meet a diverse group of people from different sectors of the fruit industry who can give you advice and with whom you can chat things through. We’ve got members, for example, who are centred around marketing, packing, growing and agronomy.”
Emily adds: “The industry is constantly changing and facing new challenges so to have a network of people to whom you can turn and ask questions is key. And you can really get to know people on a trip.”
Whilst in Chile, the group will be able to take inspiration from a country that is known to be a huge producer and exporter of fresh produce. “I thought it would be very interesting for UK growers to see that scale of production,” opines Emily – who adds that, by thinking outside of the box, there is perhaps the potential for the UK fruit sector to reach similarly great heights. “People are more focussed on healthy eating and we grow a healthy product. So, we should be increasing market penetration and really growing the market for our crops. And with the help of the latest technologies, we can try and broaden our seasons and produce more when people want it.” With these ambitions in mind, the Under 40s group – which last year celebrated its 50th anniversary and which also holds interim conferences in the UK – is keen for the group to meet more frequently. This autumn therefore saw the committee hold the group’s first forum. Taking place in Kent, the event saw some the sponsors of the Chile trip give some useful presentations on agronomy. Emily says: “We are really trying to spread the word about the Under 40s – gain new members and, rather than just making it an annual trip, have that continuity and keep the conversations going.” Given that spreading the word will be a welcome change from thinking about my spreading middle-aged midriff, I, for one, will be doing all I can to support this dynamic and vital group.
ICL is one of the industry sponsors who are helping to subsidise the forthcoming Chile trip.
To support next year’s trip, visit https://www.gofundme.com/under-forties-fruit-growers-uk