The Marden Fruit Show Society (MFSS) is a Registered Charity run by a voluntary committee who represent many different facets of the fruit industry. The aim of the Society is to promote the better growing, grading and marketing of fruit.
The Society organises the National Fruit Show, which acts as a meeting place for the industry. The centrepiece of the show, held each October, is the largest competitive display of commercially grown top and soft fruit staged in the UK.
The After-Show event takes the competition fruit "on the road" as part of the Society's aims to educate the public about British Fruit. In previous years the show fruit has been displayed and sold at RHS Wisley, Ampleforth Abbey, Chatsworth House, Lakeside Shopping Centre and the Yorkshire Live event in Harrogate.
First official meeting/AGM.
View the Show announcement letter
First Show on Thursday & Friday. Total attendance 1538.
View a congratulatory letter
2nd AGM. Balance sheet showed a surplus of £83 2s 11d
2nd Show on Wednesday & Thursday. Total attendance 2,208
Show cancelled due to a reduced number of entries. This was attributed to bad weather earlier in the year and recent gale damage.
1st show where judging takes place on Tuesday. Total attendance 1856
Show abandoned due to severe frost damage
Show cancelled due to outbreak of WWII
View the cancellation notice letter
Emergency War Committee formed. Show postponed for the duration of the war
After an absence of ten years, the fifth annual show. Attendance 2477
1st public post show event with the fruit being re-staged at Selfridges, London, prior to this the fruit was always sold at auction
Royal Visit by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother
Change of name to The Marden Fruit Show Society. Previously The Marden & District Commercial Fruit Show
First Bonanza Prize – A Berthaud 1500 Spraying Machine
First Handbook
Royal Visit by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Show moves to the Kent Showground at Detling
Show relaunched as The National Fruit Show
Show celebrates 80th Anniversary Event
Show venue now the Maidstone Exhibition Hall featuring new Fruit Display and expanded exhibitor space
Please complete this form before arriving at the show to fast track through registration:
Registration is sponsored by:
The National Fruit Show is organised by the Marden Fruit Show Society CIO, registered charity number 1168291.
