Archive for June, 2009

PRC confirms pesticide-free schools

Jun30
SECTION | EDUCATION, Education (General issues), Latest updates

Monitoring carried out by the independent Pesticide Residues Committee has confirmed that fresh produce supplied to schoolchildren as part of the School Fruit & Vegetable Scheme (SFVS) is consistently safe to eat.

Results from the latest testing programme for the autumn term in 2008 indicated that all samples either contained no detectable residues or residues below the maximum residue level (MRL).

Many UK fresh produce businesses are involved in the SFVS, which has contributed to a successful increase in consumption – a September 2007 report found that 5 A DAY consumption among schoolchildren had risen from 32 per cent in 2004 to 44 per cent in 2006.

The presence of a residue does not mean that produce is not safe to eat and MRLs are not safety limits, but are based on good agricultural practice and are usually well below the levels that would be a concern for people’s health.

Nigel Jenney, chief executive of the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC), said: “With rising obesity levels and poor diet among children, an ambitious programme is needed to tackle this public health issue. The FPC has lobbied the UK government to take advantage of an EU-wide scheme to allow more schoolchildren to enjoy fresh produce. We recently welcomed the announcement that the Scottish government is taking up additional funding on offer from the EU, and we will continue to press the UK government to think again and to seize this opportunity to expand the success of the current SFVS.

“There are stringent standards in place to ensure that the UK consumer can enjoy healthy, good-quality fresh produce, including a rigorous testing and regulatory process for the use of pesticides. FPC’s Code of Practice for the Control of Pesticides is recognised by the SFVS and throughout the industry as a well-established practical guide on managing pesticide use and residues. We believe that it is important for everyone within the fresh produce industry to ensure that they maintain high standards and follow good practice to reassure consumers that every care is taken by both UK and overseas growers.”

In a survey by the Food Standards Agency, UK consumers indicated that they are more concerned about rising food prices than about pesticides in food. It showed concerns about pesticides have decreased over time and are now at their lowest level since tracking began in 2001

Coastline Produce hosts school visit

Jun29
SECTION | EDUCATION, Education (General issues)

As part of an initiative to help create enthusiasm and healthy eating, St Joseph’s School in Christchurch, Bournemouth, came up with the Funky Food and Healthy Eating campaign and asked Coastline Produce to get involved.

The schoolchildren visited the industrial estate to see the workings of the logistics companies on the site as part of the programme.

Coastline Produce’s Craig Russell and operations director John Sutton each took turns to show groups of 30 children around during a week earlier this month.

Coastline could easily be described as a gateway as produce arrives in the UK and is quickly packed, stored, chilled and cared for before being repacked and distributed to nearly 1,000 customers all over the south of England.

One group of children toured the dry foods and foodservice warehouses with Sutton and the other visited the fresh fruit and vegetable area with Russell.

Feedback from the event was very positive, with the children particularly positive about the scale of their operations, the exotic nature of the produce and the number of forklift trucks in sight.

Kumato hits North America

Jun29
SECTION | Tomato

Mastronardi has rebranded the product

Canadian grower/exporter Mastronardi Produce has begun delivering the European sensation tomato, the Kumato – unique in its brown colouring – to retailers across North America.

The unusual tomato, which is thought to have higher sweetness levels than normal varieties, has already had considerable success in Europe.

The move follows Mastronardi’s recent success at the United Show, where it unveiled its new updated branding.

The new Sunset Kumato label displays a ripeness chart on the front of the label that shows customers at what stage of colour the tomato is best to be eaten at, part of the ongoing process Mastronardi is rolling out to educate consumers on tomato usage and consumption.

Paul Mastronardi, executive vice-president, said: “We continue our worldwide research and development of unique, flavourful, gourmet tomatoes and, in launching the Kumato in North America, believe this authentic European variety will be a hit with tomato connoisseurs. For years consumers throughout Europe have enjoyed the Kumato. We are now very excited to grow it in our own greenhouses and have consumers on this side of the ocean enjoy it.

“We need to educate consumers on how to use speciality tomatoes – it’s more than just chopping them and putting them in to salads.

“The Kumato is a unique tomato experience – its deep colour nurtures intense flavour and aroma that I have yet to see in any other specialty variety.”

University of Leicester’s Harold Martin Botanic Garden opens annual outdoor exhibition

Jun29
SECTION | Trees and shrubs

by Magda Ibrahim
HortWeek.com
29 June 2009


 The University of Leicester’s Harold Martin Botanic Garden has opened its eighth annual outdoor exhibition of sculpture.

Members of the public were able to watch Derby sculptor Laura Ellen Bacon as she created a new work yesterday (28 June) at the garden in Oadby, Leicestershire.

The event, entitled Celebrating British Sculpture, runs until 27 September.

The work of Laura Ellen Bacon focuses on sculptural, tactile forms and during the demonstration at the botanic garden she worked with the natural curve in willow to create a structure called Fallen Form.

Howard Nurseries opens iris fields to the public

Jun29
SECTION | Bulbs/corms

by Matthew Appleby
HortWeek.com
29 June 2009


 Howard Nurseries raised £6,480 during its first open day for the public to view 6ha of iris fields.

The four-hour event raised the money for cancer charity Macmillan. Around 1,200 visitors attended.

A representative for the Norfolk nursery, Christine Howard, said: “Due to us being wholesale, the day was a rare chance for the public to see behind the scenes of a production nursery and, due to crop rotation, it is unlikely we would have the 90,000 irises in one place again for a number of years.”

The company also hosted plant stalls from a range of local growers including Blacksmiths Cottage Nursery and Seagate Irises. Visitors could either take the option of a walk or a tractor ride to view the nursery’s flowering iris fields. Local artist Timothy Easton also had a stand at the event. Easton produces oil paintings from the views of iris fields.

Diss Flower Club and Rickinghall WI offered cakes and cream teas to visitors, who had travelled to the event from as far away as Milton Keynes and Southend.

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