§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to encourage producers to bring on to the market varieties of(a) apples, (b) pears and (c) other fruits that were readily available in 19th-century England but are rarely found today. [149743]
§ Ms QuinThe England Rural Development Programme can assist growers to pursue new market opportunities, for example grants under the Rural Enterprise Scheme can help with the marketing of quality agricultural products, including older varieties of apples, pears and other fruit. The National Fruit Collection of Brogdale is a rich resource containing over 3,000 distinct506W varieties of apples, pears and other stone and bush fruits which are available to those interested in identifying old varieties suitable for niche markets. The Government support the National Fruit Collection at Brogdale at a cost of £180,000 per annum.