History
The Company was founded in 1463 and received a Royal Charter in 1605. The Company was a classical medieval guild governing trade and maintaining quality and inspection of fruit imported into the City. It was also responsible for training apprentices, caring for members and doing charitable works. The connection of the Company to the fruit trade had diminished by the late nineteenth century although it remained a City institution. In the latter twentieth century its connections to the trade were revitalised, diverting it from the course of becoming a purely charitable institution, as many other Livery Companies have done. It is known for its special recognition of individuals in the fruit industry and for its support of research and development concerned with the industry. Currently, over half the Livery is made up of industry representation.
Read more about this topic: Worshipful Company Of Fruiterers
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