The winners of Produced in Kent’s Taste of Kent Awards 2020, Garden of England Champions Top Fruit Categories, sponsored by BTF Partnership, were announced at the National Fruit Show on Thursday 24 October.

Produced in Kent’s panel of judges tasted over 100 apples and pears in 16 classes, all from Kent growers, which were on display this week at the prestigious National Fruit Show.

The judges ranked each fruits’ flavour, texture and juiciness, with the top ten apples and top five pears going through to a second-round taste-off, before an overall winner was selected.

The winners are:

Garden of England Champions Tastiest Apple:
Variety : Jazz
Grower: Simon Bray

Garden of England Champions Tastiest Pear:
Variety : Concorde
Grower: Clive and Richard Edmed

Jill Sargent at Produced in Kent said: “Congratulations to the winning apple and pear growers. This hasn’t been an easy season with the wet weather however the quality and taste of the fruit is absolutely fantastic thanks to the expertise of the British growers. The standard of entries is always very high for this category and Kent is famous for its apple and pear growing, but we are judging on how good they taste and Jazz and Concorde proved to be the tastiest this year.”

Melissa Mitchell at BTF Partnership said: “We are once again delighted to sponsor the Taste of Kent Awards, Top Fruit categories and this year’s winners are both very deserving of the title of the growers of the tastiest apples and pears in Kent, congratulations to them both.”

Public voting for the 16th annual Taste of Kent Awards 2020 is now open. To cast your vote simply visit www.tasteofkentawards.co.uk before 2 January 2020. The awards presentation dinner will take place on 5 March 2020 at the Kent Events Centre, Detling.