The overall crop of both dessert and culinary fruit looks set to be between 12 percent and 20 percent higher than last year, according to initial crop estimates from English Apples and Pears. However pears have remained virtually static.

"Cox shows a 15 percent rise, and Egremont Russett will be marginally up,” pointed out chief executive Adrian Barlow. “There will be substantial comparative increases in the hectarage of Gala and particularly Braeburn, which is increasing rapidly."

Barlow said that early and main season niche favourites like Discovery, Worcester and Spartan show an improvement, although hectarage is static.

"There will be a heavier English Bramley crop, and while we are waiting for the Northern Irish figures it would appear that yields will be similar to last year," he noted.

What encourages Barlow most however, is the continuing and widening response by the major multiples who are already all set to sell more English fruit in the coming season.

"The majority have already made impressive promotional plans to back up their programmes this season," he added. "The tremendous support given by many last year also proved to them that customers prefer English fruit because of its taste, and also see it as a way to reduce food miles.

“The total response this autumn should be fantastic."