NextGen Fruit Group

INTRODUCING: The New Committee would like to thank the previous committee, they have set the bar incredibly high. We are looking forward to an incredible 2 years. Our aim for the next two years is to give our members enjoyment and education whilst making social connections within the industry. We hope to host events which will give NextGen members a good network to aid in their careers and inspire each other. Please stay tuned as we introduce our new committee and the events we have in store for the next two years. Your NextGen Committee #nextgenfruitgroup #britishfruitgrowers #newcommittee #newbeginnings

Farewell from us... Just a final note from the NextGen Committee 2022/24, we've had a blast! Hosting 8 events over the tenure at a variety of great UK businesses, illustrating advance growing to eye opening processes and industries that under pin UK Horticulture. Including our first Innovation Day highlighting some incredible minds and industry thinkers. We've also been encouraged by great attendance across our events, particularly vitalised by new members that have got stuck in and passionate for all that NextGen Stands for. Culminating in a unforgettable International Conference, allowing our members to experience something totally different from global horticulture. Thank you to our generous Partners, Supporters and all our hosts over the last years, without your generosity the group would not be able to have the impact it does. As well as a big thanks to all our members for attending and engaging in events. It has been a great opportunity for us the committee and we wish the new committee all the best for the next years and excited to see how they continue with the group. Your Committee 2022-2024 Oli Pascall, Anna Ralph, Richard Smith, Rob Wickham, Mike Rudge, Gail Gribble and Tom Barnes #NextGenFruitGroup #Committee2224 #Handover #Horticulture #Farewell #ThankYou #GoodLuck

A lovely write up from HortNews, a summary of our International Conference. https://lnkd.in/ezwQFg9m

What a cheery bunch after 8 days travel! No doubt a response from an insightful tour from Jackson Family Wines just North of Santa Rosa. A dive into their regenerative farming techniques and a wine tasting demonstrating their broad range of wine offerings. #NextGenFruitGroup #JacksonFamilyWines #Vitaculture #WineTasting #Sustainability

Family Tree Farms another incredibly generous host for our International Conference in California. Family Tree Farms representing incomparable scale of growing Stone Fruit and Blueberry growing in the central, just south of Fresno. Demonstrating an unapologetically family business, with terrific scale and hard line focus on variety development and what is next for their growing operation. Founder David Jackson and family gave so much of their time to engage with our members, even hosting us for lunch at the family home, truly inspirational hosts. Whilst on ranch, we were also hosted to a demo from Burro, showing automated platform tech that is looking to revolutionise the berry picking industry. #NextGenFruitGroup #InternationalConference #FamilyTreeFarms #Fresno #California #Blueberries #StoneFruit #Automation

Well, what can I say that hasn’t already been said. Our international trip with NextGen Fruit Group was one that will not be forgotten. With over 900miles travelled across California, over 14 innovational site visits, 7 hotels, hospitality from our hosts like no other, our eyes opened to the huge scale of growing in the U.S, a fair few G&Ts & new wonderful friendships made - all organised by one outstanding committee 🥹 All thanks to Anna Ralph Rob Wickham Oli Pascall Tom Barnes Gail Gribble Richard Smith Alana Deacon & Mike Rudge for putting together this whirlwind of a trip ❤️ To the NextGen sponsors & Partners who made this all possible - we thank you 🥂 A huge thanks to our hosts for your expertise & overwhelming hospitality: Plenty® Driscoll's Reiter Affiliated Companies California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo BLOOMFRESH Family Tree Farms SunBerry Farms Fog City Farms Taylor Farms Trattore Farms and Winery Jackson Family Wines Safe to say the next generation of fruit farming is in very good hands with these knowledgeable and inspiring group of young growers & industry professionals 🍓🍇🍎 Proud to have been given the opportunity to represent IWS and looking forward to implementing lots of the invaluable experience into assisting our growers in the future 💦 #nextgentakescalifornia #ukgrowers #softfruit #nextgenerationofgrowers

Last week we had the opportunity to welcome the UK NextGen Fruit Group to Family Tree Farms for a day of inspiration and shared passion for horticulture. A great visit with great people. 🍑🫐🌱 NextGen Fruit Group

What an amazing trip to California! NextGen Fruit Group organised a once in a lifetime trip to visit a number of farms leading the fruit and veg industry. I have personally gained a vast amount from each of the visits that inluded Plenty® , Driscoll's, California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), California Giant Berry Farms , advanced.farm, BLOOMFRESH, Family Tree Farms, Taylor Farms, Fog City Farms, Jackson Family Wines, Burrow Farms. They all provided the highest level of hospitality possible and made the trip exceptional. Meeting over 50 other delegates from across the UK industry and getting to know them has been inspirational. I feel extremely fortunate to have gone on this trip and to represent Haygrove . A massive thank you to the nextgen committee for organising the trip whilst working their full time jobs.

An insightful week with the NextGen Fruit Group in California, 8 days, 53 delegates, 14 hosts, covering over 900miles from LA via San Fran to Sonoma county. Visits included: Plenty®, Driscoll's, advanced.farm, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, BLOOM FRESH, Family Tree Farms, Burro, SunBerry Farms, Taylor Farms, Fog City Farms, Trattore Farms and Winery, Agtonomy, Jackson Family Wines 🌿 🍇 🍎 🍊 🍓 🍑 Big thank you to our partners (Haygrove Oxbury Bank Plc HAYNES AGRICULTURAL LIMITED Fargro Limited BASF Cocogreen Netafim) Super proud of our brilliant committee for putting together a jam packed, awe-inspiring agenda (Mike Rudge, Rob Wickham, Tom Barnes, Gail Gribble, Richard Smith, Oli Pascall) This marks the end of our two year tenure and we now hand over to Alana Deacon and her team. We've all come away excited about the future of UK Horticulture, we have a great bunch of young passionate industry leaders. Shout out the team at Pixley Berries (Juice) Ltd who have keeping the show on the road in my absence! 💗

Whilst we all struggle to get back to the day job and the time zone, we can’t help but reminisce on all the great places we’ve been. Taylor Farms kindly hosted us at their food service packing facility in Salinas. Illustrating incredible scale and focus on robotics and automation. Added to the fact that Taylor farms moves half of the manufacturing equipment to Arizona for half the year to follow the seasonal supply, showing inspirational focus on supply chain resilience. #nextgenfruitgroup #saladpacking #freshproduce #salinas #california