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The National Fruit show takes place at the Kent showground every year coinciding with the end of the fruit harvest.  The organisers then take the winning fruit on tour and this year they chose Festival Place.

A display was set up in The Atrium by Burger King and volunteers from the organisers and farmers sold the winning product at an extended Saturday Food Market in Porchester Square.  Customers were able to taste and buy old favourites like Gala, Cox and Braeburn apples as well as being introduced to new varieties like Rubens, Cameo, Jazz and Kanzi.  As well as apples, visitors were also able to sample Conference and Comice pears.

And if you wanted to know how to cook the best apple pie, Bramley apples were on hand to tell you and give you a taster of their recipe.

‘It was a great display.  I’m sure many people did not realise just how many different varieties of apples are grown in Britain.  And to have a chance to ‘try before you buy’ meant our visitors were given a real treat this weekend,’ said Jane Stewart, marketing manager for Festival Place.

Ian Nelson from Sunnyfields organic farm complemented the National Fruit Show with local apple juice, local seasonally grown vegetables, great tasting sausages made from locally reared pork and fresh bread.