Agrovista has further strengthened its highly experienced fruit team with the appointment of James Shillitoe as top and stone fruit agronomist.

James, who will advise growers in the South East of England and the West Midlands, brings an in-depth knowledge of agronomy and orchard systems honed after 18 years in the fruit sector and a similar period beforehand as a grower of salad and vegetable crops.

After joining a Kent-based independent fruit advisory service in 2008 as a trainee top fruit agronomist, James quickly established himself as highly respected crop adviser with a wide range of responsibilities.

Key areas included crop management, protection and nutrition, integrated pest management, orchard site selection and design, planting and crop establishment.

Specialisms include tree management and pesticide application on 3-D cropping (for example orchards and strawberry table-top crops) and the development of planar, 2-D orchard systems aimed at improving and easing orchard management and ensuring orchards are ‘robot ready’.

James has also developed pick-date prediction systems on apples (including Gala and Braeburn) and cherry, and has studied and can advise on Gala clones grown under UK growing conditions. In addition, he has many years’ experience on the practical development of pest and disease-forecasting software on farm.

James has a BSc in Agriculture and started his practical agricultural journey during his sandwich year, working in Zimbabwe on a 2000-acre double-cropped farm. After graduating he joined Vitacress Salads in Portugal. He gained a wealth of experience over the next 13 years, and then moved to an organic vegetable and salads operation in Staffordshire as fresh produce manager for five years, before moving across to fruit.

James is looking forward to his new position at Agrovista. “I welcome the opportunity of being part of a positive team and being challenged in the right environment, which I believe will help me be the best adviser I can be.

“I’m looking forward to growing into the new role, using my 36 years of experience and networking to help Agrovista’s grower customers make the most of existing and new techniques to optimise yields and quality.”

Mark Davies, Agrovista’s head of fruit, said: “The key point of difference at Agrovista Fruit is our commitment to regular and thorough crop walking and reporting, working closely with growers year after year to help optimise outputs.

“James has a proven track record in this regard, being known for his very enthusiastic approach to his agronomy offer, often going above and beyond to ensure he is offering his clients the very best service.

“Sound technical knowledge, effective communications and a team ethic are vital for anyone joining my team, and James has these in spades. We are really pleased he has chosen to join us.”