Centre for Alternative Land Use
HOME GROWN AVOCADOS?
The supermarket group Sainsbury is trialling the feasibility of producing avocados under glass in the UK.
The trial will enable a full cost-benefit analysis to be produced comparing home grown pears with imported.
Sainsbury's has also established an innvotive partnership with major industrial partners on Teeside in the East of England using 'waste' carbon dioxide and steam from industrial processes to fuel glass houses for year round tomato production.
Source: J Sainsbury & The Grocer
NEW YEARS HONOURS AWARD
Congratulations to Medwyn Williams - CALU Advisory Board member and vegetable grower extraordinaire - on being awarded an MBE.
Medwyn, who has won the prestigious Gold Medal at Chelsea Flower Show an astonishing 10 times in a row, was awarded the MBE in the New Year's Honours List in recognition of his horticultural work.
Medwyn is also a writer, broadcaster and Chairman of the National Vegetable Society.
Visit Medwyn's website here.
GROWING GLOBAL BLUEBERRY PRODUCTION
The demand for blueberries keeps on growing and producers across the world are seeking to capitalise on this. The Grower (5th January) reports that Chile, Argentina and South Africa are all set to significantly increase their production. Whilst Serbia has received a grant from USAid for $129,000 to develop its blueberry production.
Alasdair Kilpatrick - Development Officer, CALU
HONEY SALES HITTING NEW HIGHS
The Grocer magazine (07/01/06) reports that honey sales are continuing to show strong year on year growth. The value of UK honey sales has increased by 4.5% to £60.9m.
The same report points out that year on year sales of mainstream jams and marmalades have declined. However, sales of 'premium' jams and conserves, particularly those with lower added sugar levels, have shown steady growth. The Grocer refers to this as the 'premiumisation' of the category.
These trends show that consumers are still seeking products which have a health image. Consumers are also willing to pay premium prices for these products.
POLYTUNNELS AND PLANNING PERMISSION
The last days of 2005 saw Waverley Borough Council taking what is being viewed as a landmark decision in relation to polytunnels and planning permission.
Following an appeal and public enquiry, the Council stood by its initial decision that polytunnels, windbreaks and associated structures at a farm in Surrey did need planning permission and must be removed.
The farm has 99 acres of polytunnels and associated structures.
Source: CPRE & The Grower
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e-mail: calu@bangor.ac.uk
CALU exists to transfer technology to any business in Wales that is interested in horticulture, biomass, alternative crops, alternative livestock and/or farm woodlands.