Shropshire Student Awarded Worshipful Company of Fruiterers Award

Posted 11 October 2004

Adrian Latham, of Marchamley, Shrewsbury, has been awarded The Worshipful Company of Fruiterers Award for the Best Horticultural Dissertation by a student at Harper Adams University College, Shropshire.

Adrian, 24, was awarded the prize for his dissertation: ‘Are supermarkets in the interest of UK fresh fruit consumers?’

Adrian’s passion for the fresh fruit industry originated from his placement year when he worked as a quality controller for an exotic fruit importer and supplier, servicing the retail, wholesale and processing markets. It was there he saw how supermarkets dominate fresh produce supply chains and the effect of this on suppliers and consumers. He believes that supermarkets should increase their awareness of consumer demand with an aim to increase British fruit sourcing and provide security for UK fruit industry members.

Adrian, a former student of Bishop Heber School, Malpas, has accepted a position as a Potato Trader with Greenvale AP, who are one of Europes' leading potato suppliers. His future career aspirations are to run his own fresh produce business providing UK consumers with what they want, while supporting and developing the British fresh produce industry.

Adrian collected his prize at Harper Adams’ annual graduation ceremony last month, where he also graduated with a BA First Class Honours Degree in Business Management and Marketing.