"Growers need to focus on maximising grape and wine quality after a difficult start to the year, with late frosts damaging yields in some areas."
This is the message from Fruit Focus, an event which is hoping to help British wine producers maximise quality after a turbulent start to the year after a severe frost in Spring.
NFU chief horticulture adviser, Hayley Campbell-Gibbons said: “The biggest concern is outdoor fruit production – such as apple and pear orchards, and blackcurrants. Production is ahead of schedule in many parts of the country, which means trees are in full flower and very vulnerable to night frosts. A severe frost could significantly impact British fruit production.”
This year, the UKVA forum will be focusing on yield, quality and profitability, which is especially topical given the difficult year many producers have had.
“There has been a lot of talk about yield recently, especially after the spring frosts,” says Jo Cowderoy, general secretary at the UKVA, who will be chairing the forum.
“This year it will be important to focus on quality, in order to maximise profitability, something that Fruit Focus is really going to help growers home in on.”
Source - http://www.freshplaza.com
