It’s an ill wind which blows some good for somebody, somewhere.
A county fruit grower has said that January’s heavy snow has helped his produce, despite the winter chill causing havoc on the region’s roads and problems for some farmers.
Award-winning fruit farmer Anthony Snell, of A.J. and C.I. Snell, at Harewood End, said the cold snap had given his blackcurrants the chill factor which should help them come harvest time.
With temperatures still low due to northerly winds and the possibility of further snow and sleet at the weekend Mr Snell, a UK Soft Fruit Grower of the Year award winner, said good winter temperatures had a marked impact on plant pollination.
He said: “Fruit needs a good winter chill for good even pollination in the spring and as October and November were quite mild the snow and colder weather really has done some good.”
He added: “While the big chill has caused problems from some, you will find that fruit growers are getting winter where we want it. The snow has given our blackcurrants the chill factor they need.”
Mr Snell added the cold conditions would help the plants to develop buds then flowers at the same time which would mean the fruit should ripen evenly when it came to harvest.
The organic and conventional fruit farmer, who is the NFU’s horticulture board chairman in the region, produces and packs fresh fruit to Ribena, frozen fruit for yoghurt and ice-cream makers and mixed fruit packs for Marks and Spencer.
He is also on the board of The Blackcurrant Foundation which aims to promote British growers and raise awareness of the fruit and its many benefits.
Mr Snell added: “We are busy promoting the British blackcurrant as a mini super fruit and encouraging people to buy them. There are still lots of blackcurrants being used in the processing of yoghurt and ice cream that come from overseas, particularly Poland, but I feel we can compete well over here now. I would urge everyone to buy British and support regional fruit producers.”
