The Red Tractor Assurance for farms standards for fruit, vegetables and salad crops address the concerns of consumers that farm produce should be carefully grown, responsibly harvested and safe to eat. The Red Tractor standards require scientifically based integrated crop management and good horticultural practice, with an emphasis on reducing the use of pesticides to guarantee high quality food and environmental protection. Red Tractor also believes it is important to know where your food comes from and can trace all Red Tractor farmers’ produce back to its field of origin.
Red Tractor popped into my research from reading a DEFRA research document into public Sector sourcing of fruit and veg for schools. the policy is to support schemes like Red Tractor by sourcing from them.
Some interesting data from this report:
DEFRA Report and action plan to increase sourcing of Organic produce from Bristish suppliers
Within this report the British Retail Consortium worked with supermarkets in 2001 on surveying production of a range of products incl Apples. Apples was highlighted as an area to concentrate on to increase British supplies. The following notes were made about the difficulties with this policy:
'Majority imports, even during (short) UK season. Very limited area of production. It is claimed that main varieties demanded in UK are not produced here and that disease resistant varieties not acceptable to consumers. Main problems: Poor climate (risk of frost during flowering, damp/cool conditions), control of pests & diseases and fertility supply. Limited availability of some organic acceptable control methods under UK pesticide regulation may be a barrier. No indication of likely uptake of enhanced organic conversion support.'
Sweetie apples set for UK
Leon JahaeSweetie apples will be planted in the UK from November 2011.
The New Zealand variety is a cross between Gala and Braeburn and a sister to Jazz, as it came from the same programme.
The apple will be planted in the UK from next winter, by The Co-operative Farms. Around 10,000 trees will be planted in the first year and the first arrivals will hit the shelves in September 2012, when 30-40t should be available.
Belgium-based ursery René Nicolaï is the head licence holder of the variety.
Leon Jahae, a top-fruit consultant who works for Agrovista, said: “This apple fills the gap between September and December and picks seven days before Gala – it covers a part of the season in which we don’t have that much choice. For that period of time, it’s a better apple that stores better; it has a longer shelf life and answers the needs of the consumer.”
Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI):- the estimated amount of a substance that can be consumed every day for a lifetime by humans without presenting a significant risk to their health, based on current scientific evidence.
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