Champion Grower Simon Bray Adds More Awards to Trophy Cabinet

Kent’s champion apple grower Simon Bray continued his fine record at the National Fruit Show this year after adding another two awards to his trophy cabinet including the Garden of England Champion Kent’s Tastiest Apple 2020 prize. For Simon Bray, at Monks Farm located near Sittingbourne, the National Fruit Show is an opportunity to showcase the best of British apples and the best of Kent. In 10 years of competing at the National Fruit Show, Simon has taken home numerous prizes and rosettes. Previously, Simon’s JAZZ™ Apples won the Tastiest Apple category outright in 2014 and they have finished second in 2017 and 2018. At this year’s show, Simon’s precious JAZZ™ came third in the ‘UK’s Tastiest Apple’ category but won the Garden of England Champion regional prize for Kent’s Tastiest Apple 2020. Simon responding to the success by saying: “It’s a huge honour once again to come away with some awards at this prestigious show. Our success is down to a combination of the fertile brick earth soils, plenty of sunlight, good growing conditions for our trees and picking the apples in their optimum condition. As with successful products today it is a whole team effort, from planning, growing, storing through to marketing. JAZZ™ is an extremely good apple!’’ Monks Farm is third generation and started in the 1920’s with sheep grazing under large cherry trees. Then in the 60s they moved to apple orchards. Monks Farm had its first commercial JAZZ™ trees planted in 2006, with six hectares now planted, making it the farm’s second main variety. The National Fruit show took place on the 23rd and 24th October and has been running for over 80 years, putting on the largest competitive display of commercially grown UK Soft and Top fruit. Gary Harrison, of Worldwide Fruit Ltd and the UK Commercial Manager for JAZZ™ Apple, commented: “A massive congratulations to Simon who once again continues to rack up the awards. Simon and his team are incredibly knowledgeable, dedicated and passionate so it’s no surprise to us that the awards keep coming. Top grower!” The JAZZ™ Journey JAZZ™ Apples are a funky fusion of a Braeburn and a Royal Gala. The first British JAZZ™ Apple crop hit the shops in November 2007 with Greg Wallace helping grower Paul Mansfield to launch the variety in style. Now available in Aldi, Asda, Booths, Co-op, Lidl, Morrisons, M&S, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose, JAZZ™ are a global favourite grown in over ten countries around the world under a closely controlled quality growing programme managed by T&G Global. For more information visit: Website: www.jazzapple.com/uk/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/JazzAppleUK Twitter @JazzAppleUK Instagram: @JazzAppleUK