Britain could heading for a record-breaking apple crop, with the long hot summer producing super sweet fruit for a potentially exceptional cider vintage.
One of the country’s leading producers, Showerings, is expecting a “monster crop” of 2,500 to 3,000 tonnes of apples, compared to the 1,000 tonnes harvested last year.
The long and hot summer will produce an “exceptional vintage” according to orchard master Bob Wadley, who believes the heatwaves and sunshine boosted sugar content, while the recent rain allowed the apples to swell.
England’s apples are mostly grown in Somerset, Herefordshire and Kent. Growers are having to contend with climate change, which is causing more volatile and unpredictable weather conditions. After two difficult years, growers agree that this year will see a dramatic recovery.
“A monster crop will be a gift after two challenging harvests, and the quality of the fruit so far is incredibly exciting,” said Nick Showering, director of Showerings.
“The long sunshine hours, high sugar levels, and the late summer rain means we’re looking at apples with outstanding quality and flavour — a perfect foundation for an exceptional vintage of our fine cider.”
The overall cider market in the UK is broadly flat, in fact showing a small decline, but emerging premium and fine categories are experiencing strong growth, says Showerings. It says it is outperforming the sector, reporting a year-on-year increase in volume growth of 51%.
