New Financing To Support British Apple And Pear Investment

British Apples & Pears Limited (BAPL) has entered into a partnership with Oxbury Bank to deliver specialised financial solutions for British topfruit growers in a bid to support long-term investment in the sector and increase domestic supply. 

The collaboration is designed to support UK orchard planting and investment in equipment, in line with BAPL’s target for 60% of apples sold in the UK to be domestically produced by 2035.

The tailored financial products are intended to respond to increasing investment needs among topfruit growers by providing flexible funding options adapted to the seasonality and specific requirements of apple and pear businesses. 

The competitively-priced financing covers the establishment of orchards, as well as the purchase of harvesting, grading, and packing equipment. 

Options include up to 100% funding of establishment costs, interest-only features, flexible drawdowns, and no early repayment fees.

The link-up between BAPL and the UK’s specialist agricultural bank is designed to help apple and pear producers address current industry challenges, improve operational resilience, and facilitate investment in orchard infrastructure and technology across harvesting, grading and packing.

Ali Capper, executive chair of British Apples & Pears Limited, said that while British apple and pear growers are investing for the future, they need access to finance that understands their business. 

“This partnership with Oxbury Bank is about ensuring that our growers can modernise, replant, and expand with confidence,” Capper explained. 

“Crucially, access to these competitive loans depends on secure, multi-year supply arrangements – so we’re calling on retailers to commit to long-term partnerships that give growers access to these products and the security they need to invest,” she added. “Only by working together can we grow more British fruit for consumers.”

Oxbury Bank’s expertise in agricultural finance, paired with BAPL’s strong sector presence, is positioned to support long-term growth in the British top fruit sector. 

“Our Farm Loans and Asset Finance products are built to help growers invest in new orchards and the equipment that drives efficiency and productivity,” commented Nick Evans, managing director and founder of Oxbury Bank. “Together, we can help secure the future of British fruit growing and strengthen the UK’s food resilience.”

Source: HortNews