Christopher Atkinson graduated from University of London with a First in Applied Biology, studying for his PhD at the University of Wales. He has held postdoctoral positions with the University of Wales; Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Virginia, USA. He is also a Visiting Scholar, Stanford University, California, USA. and a Research Fellow at Lancaster University, UK. Currently Head of Science and Executive Member of East Malling Research’s Science Management Team, his current work is directed at the health benefits of fruit consumption, particularly with respect to agronomic ways to enhance bioactive compounds.
Dr Jonathan Blackman is a graduate of Wye College, University of London and studied for his DPhil at the University of Sussex. After nearly 10 years working for ADAS as a Soil Scientist and as a research scientist at Rosemaund in Herefordshire, he has since 1999, worked in the West Midlands as a BASIS and FACTS qualified Fruit and Hops Agronomist, currently with Hutchinsons. He is Secretary of the Herefordshire Hop Discussion Group, Steward of the Commercial Apple and Pear classes at the Malvern Autumn Show and is a member of the Marden Fruit Show Society General Committee.
Richard Gaskin started his career as an agricultural apprentice with Rickards Farms then studied at Hadlow College before returning to Rickards Farms for a total of seven years. That was followed by two years with Safeway, nine years with Chingford Fruit Packers, two years with AV Ltd and a year with Dunand. For the past 12 years he has run and developed Techno Fresh Consultancy Ltd, acting as technical consultants to smaller suppliers to the multiple retailers as well as providing third-party quality control and independent surveys for
overseas senders and UK receivers.
Graduated from Hadlow College in 1995 with ND (Agriculture) and ANCH (Horticulture). From 1996-2000 he worked in the ADAS fruit team, where he specialised in fruit storage and qualified as an Agronomist achieving both BASIS and FACTS qualifications. In 2000-2003 he worked as an Agronomist and fruit storage specialist for Hutchinsons before joining Norman Collett Ltd in 2003. Nigel is currently Technical Director of Norman Collett Ltd, where he continues his work in agronomy and fruit storage.
After studying Biochemistry and London University (RHC), Philip’s initial career was within the Pharmaceutical Industry in a research department carrying out advanced analytical techniques. He then joined the family business in the technical department, developing the scientific aims of the business with laboratory and manufacturing accreditation. He has been involved with the development of the Science side of the company, and been on panels at Leatherhead Food Research, Campden Research Association, and Technical Committees of the FDF. Philip is also a member of I.F.S.T.
Charnee has been with Worldwide Fruit for over six years. Responsibilities include coordinating store monitoring assessments, managing the new variety trial orchard with over 100 new varieties currently under test licence and assisting the development of exciting new varieties such as Kissabel©, Ladina and Monalisa.
Charnee is currently completing a MSc in Food Security with the University of Lancaster.
Ryan graduated from Hadlow College in 2013 with an Extended Diploma in Agriculture. He then joined Norman Collett Ltd, completing a Fruit Management Apprenticeship in collaboration with Hadlow College developing a broad understanding of the industry both technically and practically. He spent more than 10 years here, achieving his BASIS and FACTS qualifications. Ryan joined Agrii as a Fruit Agronomist in January 2024 and is currently working towards the BASIS Diploma in Agronomy.
I started my journey into apples and pears in 1985 when I started working on a local fruit farm (Pump Farm and Mierscourt Farm in Rainham) after finishing school.
Initially, I picked cherries, apples and pears and helped manage the harvest as a tractor driver and supervisor. I continued this during my vacations as I completed my studies – a degree in Human Geography and Economics from Loughborough University, graduating in 1988 and a post graduate diploma in Topographic Sciences from University of Swansea in 1991.
I continued working on the farm until the mid-1990s when I moved into quality and technical with UK marketing organisations, firstly ENFRU in 1995 and then Orchard World in 1997.
I joined Richard Hochfeld in 2005 as technical manger for topfruit, where I added the management of imported fruit to my portfolio being extremely fortunate to travel to most of the apple growing regions of the world.
In 2108 I started research into new varieties, planting a small trial orchard at Orchard Place.
In 2021 I made the move to Avalon Produce as technical manager and am now the technical manager for topfruit at AMT Fresh.
One of my enjoyable activities since 2016 has been as volunteering as part of the Kids Country project which is set up to help school children understand where food comes from. This involves up to 5 days a year either visiting schools or hosting school visits on farms, talking about apples and pears and running tasting sessions with the children.
Outside of work, I enjoy sports, both participating and as a spectator. I played club cricket and hockey for many years and whilst I have retired from cricket, I still play masters hockey every week. I enjoy watching cricket, athletics and rugby and often travel to watch overseas cricket and rugby events. On top of that I am a keen runner and cyclist and have taken part in many challenges, including cycling from Lands End to John O’Groats and 100 mile run in Himalayas. I am also a keen gardener and still tinker with making crosses of apples with the few trees I have in my own garden.
Gary Saunders graduated from Wye college with a BSc (Hons) in Commercial Horticulture and a MPhil in Soil Science. He has achieved both BASIS and FACTS qualifications and then went on to complete the BASIS Diploma and the Harper Adams Graduate Diploma in Agronomy with Environmental Management.
His career began at Brogdale Experimental Horticulture Station (MAFF) and he went on to roles at Edward Vinson Plants, Fast and East Malling Research. He has currently been working for the last nine years as a fruit agronomist with Agrii.
He is also a current member of the RHS Fruit, Vegetable and Herb Committee.
Ivan Velasco is a graduate of Lleida University (Spain) with a MSc (Agronomy engineering – fruit growing, horticulture and landscaping) and Wageningen University (The Netherlands) with a MSc (Plant Science).
After 10 years working in fruit cooperatives as a fruit agronomist in Spain, Ivan moved to the UK to work for FAST and since 2019 has been working as a BASIS and FACTS qualified Fruit Agronomist with Hutchinsons.
After finishing his MAgr in Agriculture, Fokion graduated from Wageningen University, in the Netherlands, with an MSc in plant breeding and plant pathology.
He is BASIS and FACTS qualified, focusing now to complete his BASIS Diploma in agronomy.
He started his career at the James Hutton institute and subsequently he took a research assistant post at Sheffield University, monitoring plant disease development using precision techniques. He then joined NIAB EMR where he became involved in several projects. Currently he works as a Fruit and Vines agronomist with Agrovista UK Ltd, based in the south of England, but also advising growers in other parts of the UK.
Retired agronomist. Knows a bit about fruit.
While growing up in Bristol, a career in agriculture was not an obvious choice, but after a year of milking cows in Somerset I was sold on the idea. Graduating from Seale Hayne Agriculture College (Plymouth Uni.) in 1991 with BSc (Hons) in Agriculture. After this spent 18 years as a grower / manager of a broad range of crops, particularly leafy salads. I was fortunate enough to work internationally, with forays to Zimbabwe and Kenya, but the majority of this time spent in Portugal.
Joined FAST LLP in 2008 as a BASIS & FACTS top fruit advisor based in the South East.
Following graduation from Wye College (London University) 1982 a Degree (Hons) Horticulture; I have always worked within the industry initially the Commercial glasshouse sector, Landscape and Garden centre retail sectors up until starting as a Fruit Agronomist with Heath Engineering 1987.
I have since developed my career as an Agronomist with various businesses including Willmot Pertwee, UAP and Agrii.
Whilst I have always been involved with vineyards; over the last decade I have specialised within Agrii, giving crop protection, production and agronomy advice for this expanding sector.
Sarah has just completed almost 20 years on the general committee of the Marden Fruit Show Society, 15 of which as Chair, she was appointed as CEO of leading London Food Charity, City Harvest in October 2022. City Harvest helps feed 123,000 people each week, sharing an average of 1.3 million meals worth of food per month, 48% of which is fresh produce. Sarah is also a Nuffield Scholar, an Honorary Assistant of the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers and Chair of its awards council. She is also commissioner for the new Harper Adams commission into the Future of Food Banks launched in May 2024. Because she can’t sit still, she is also a Non-Exec Director of The Covent Garden Market Authority and Outfield Technologies.
Telephone: 07983 534442 info@nationalfruitshow.org.uk
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