British Apples & Pears Limited (BAPL) held its annual trade event on Friday 14th May 2021. In line with government guidance, the event took place virtually via webinar. It was hosted by BBC Radio 4 and Countryfile presenter Charlotte Smith, and featured BAPL operations director Sarah Calcutt, Professor Louise Manning of the RAU, and a panel of British growers, Ben Bardsley, Tony Harding and James Simpson. The event was a chance for BAPL growers to update key UK retail representatives and the trade on the 2021 season and the success of British top fruit.  

During the webinar, BAPL gave an overview of its planned 2021 season launch promotional activity, kick-starting on Monday 4th October 2021. This included early insights into the research findings of a new apple and pear industry sustainability report by Professor Louise Manning from the Royal Agricultural University (RAU). The full report will be published in early October 2021, at the start of the British apple and pear season.

During the webinar, BAPL announced its continued collaboration with renowned chef and British apple enthusiast, Raymond Blanc. BAPL is also working with a new ambassador for 2021 – JLS member, and now farmer, JB Gill. JB will be working on a dedicated social media campaign to reach an even broader demographic with BAPL’s apple a day message.

To download the full webinar, please click here.

Top nutritionist Lily Soutter partnered with British Apples and Pears to promote the benefits of consuming pears throughout pregnancy. A relatively unknown fact, Lily says pears are one of the safest foods to consume during the early stages of pregnancy, as they are low in calories and contain fibre, folate, potassium and vitamin C which are all essential for the development of a healthy pregnancy.

Just one pear provides 20% of our daily fibre requirement, crucial for digestive health, which is often sluggish during pregnancy. Getting enough fibre in a pregnancy diet aids the functioning of the digestive system, to help ease constipation. Pears are also a tasty way for expectant mothers to consume vital nutrients such as potassium, folate, vitamin C and vitamin K, all of which alongside a nourishing diet, contribute to our daily requirements. In addition, when it comes to introducing your baby to solids, pears are a great fruit to try in the early stages of weaning.

Pears can be consumed alone as a healthy snack or as part of a meal. Soutter suggests trying a simple, yet delicious grilled mackerel and pear salad recipe, served with sliced fennel, lemon juice, watercress, pumpkin seeds and creme fraiche. This refreshing salad is full of essential omega-3 fats, which are crucial for the development of the baby’s brain and eyes. Or for those looking for a morning pick me up, start your day with a delicious bowl of yoghurt, topped with sliced pear and a dash of honey.

As a result of the pandemic, healthy eating is riding higher on the consumer agenda than ever before. Leading nutritionist Rob Hobson partnered with British Apples and Pears to promote the ‘Happy Apple Plan’, reaping the benefits of eating an apple before a meal as part of a healthy diet and weight loss plan.

Consuming an apple before a meal will help to increase the overall fibre content of that meal, and help you feel full and satisfied for longer. Just snack on a fresh and crunchy British apple as you’re preparing a meal, and then you’ll not only benefit from being less likely to eat as much of the meal, but you’ll also benefit from the apples’ healthy flavonoids and fibres that can help to burn belly fat and promote satiety.

There is no need for concern about a ‘sugar rush’ when you eat an apple before a meal. Although they taste sweet, apples release energy much more slowly than refined sugary treats helping to supply a more sustained level of energy while not inducing energy slumps after eating. What’s more, numerous studies have demonstrated that high water density foods are effective in helping weight loss. Apples are made up of 86% water, so keep us feeling fuller on fewer calories, meaning we are naturally less likely to mindless snack or binge.