Apple producers have been left unmoved by a Friends of the Earth survey which accuses the supermarkets of failing the UK industry.
FoE claimed a recent survey found that two thirds of the apples sold at the height of the UK season came from overseas.
Despite this, some UK growers told FPJ they remain happy with the level of support the retailers have been giving them this season.
Steve Maxwell, marketing director at Worldwide Fruit, said: “Our UK growers have in the main been impressed and pleased by the level of commitment shown by our customers. There has been real focus on promoting UK apples through October and November, although additional focus is always welcome.”
According to the pressure group’s survey, Tesco was the worst offender with only a quarter of its apple lines coming from the UK. Re:fresh winner Somerfield was found to have the highest percentage of UK fruit, with 42 per cent, followed by Sainsbury’s at 40 per cent.
While the survey was welcomed by Adrian Barlow, chief executive of English Apples & Pears, he said the methodology could cause confusion: “Measuring the number of varieties can be misleading, as only a limited number can provide profitable returns in today’s highly competitive market. Allocation of shelf space is a much more accurate measurement.”
Barlow agreed that some multiples were performing better than others: “The reason is that stores often fail to devote sufficient shelf space to English fruit despite the views of their head offices.”
The FoE report praised smaller greengrocers, which were found to be sourcing half their apples from the UK, while also offering a more diverse range.
The findings came from a survey of 181 supermarkets and 63 greengrocers carried out by volunteers on October 15.
However, Tesco dismissed the results. A spokesman said: “This is absolute nonsense. Not only do independent figures show Tesco has sold more English apples than anyone else this week, we are confident by the end of the season we will have had a record year.”
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