The National Fruit Show is organised by growers, for growers, and showcases the finest British apples, pears, and nuts with a large display at the centre of the show.
Nigel Bardsley, chairman of the National Fruit Show, welcomed guests to the show. He said: “Despite the challenges of the British weather, there is a good crop of fruit, which is tasting and looking good and coloured.”
The show was opened by the NFU President, who gave a keynote speech and toured the show, meeting with fruit growers and industry leaders.
Tom said: “The new government recognised in its manifesto that food security is a key part of our national security and also spoke about the role food plays in health. However, with labour costs accounting for up to 70% of the cost of production, the National Insurance hikes and National Living Wage increases announced in the budget have hugely inflated the cost of producing the nation’s fruit and vegetables.
Tom said the industry needs “government, retailers and growers alike to drive the growth in the sectors” and called for a long-term seasonal worker scheme, “a planning policy that works” and includes reviewing why horticultural sites are required to deliver BNG, and a market that gives fair returns for the risks incurred.
Public support for farmers
In his speech Tom addressed the government’s announcement that, as part of its Autumn Budget, it will reform APR (Agricultural Property Relief) and BPR (Business Property Relief) from April 2026.
He said: “This cap of £1 million is in no way appropriate for the fruit sector where fruit farms often have significant capital value. Businesses had no chance to prepare.
“The government will have to realise they have got this wrong. I genuinely think that Treasury officials have given them a paper and it has not been interrogated well enough to understand what the consequences are for you, the family farms, the businesses right across the United Kingdom.”
The changes will mean farm businesses will need to pay a tax rate of 20% of agricultural assets valued over £1 million.
With the average farmer’s return on capital invested less than 1%, there are widespread concerns this could force farmers to sell their family farms to pay the Inheritance Tax bill.
“Over the past few days, we have done everything we can to try and get this overturned," Tom continued.
“The burden it’s putting on family farms across the United Kingdom is not acceptable and we will not give up.
“The government needs to know, from all of you, that they do have a fight on their hands. Make sure your MPs know what this means for you, your family and your business.
“The only way they will recognise they have got this wrong is through a groundswell of support right across the UK, that makes them think again.
“The public are incredibly supportive of what we’re doing in this country and they want access to more British food, and you want to supply more British food.”
“This cap of £1 million is in no way appropriate for the fruit sector where fruit farms often have significant capital value. Businesses had no chance to prepare.”
NFU President Tom Bradshaw
The National Fruit Show is sponsored by Hutchinsons Ltd, N P Seymour and OnePay. It is also supported by British Apples & Pears Limited.
The show is organised every year by the Marden Fruit Show Society, a registered charity run by a voluntary committee who represent many different facets of the fruit industry. The centrepiece of the National Fruit Show, held each November, is the largest competitive display of commercially grown top fruit staged in the UK.
