Robert Mitchell MBE

I am a fruit grower with 93 hectares of apples, pears and cobnuts near Sevenoaks in Kent. I specialize in Bramley apples for the fresh and processing trade, and enjoy collaborating with researchers on horticultural and environmental science.

I have held many voluntary posts in the industry, including Vice-Chairman of the Apple & Pear Research Council; membership of the HDC Top Fruit Panel; Chairman of the Marden Fruit Show Society and Director of East Malling Research. I was Chairman of Concordia (YSV) Ltd, a leading labour provider to the horticultural industry, for 14 years and in 2011 was awarded the MBE for services to young people. My career has given me the opportunity to travel extensively in New Zealand, USA and Eastern Europe.