Fourayes is forecasting a healthy Bramley harvest in line with its 2008 yield projection.
The Kent-based grower and supplier of processed fruit fillings says its orchards are set to produce a good yield of the cooking apple, with the quality of fruit high and the skin finish looking good.
Fourayes forecasts are largely in line with figures released in the 2008 Prognosfruit report, which show that Bramley production in England is set to increase in 2008 to 55,000 tonnes, an increase on 50,000t on 2007.
Phil Acock, managing director at Fourayes, said: “At the moment we are on track to deliver our forecast yield. The crop this season is looking to be of the highest quality, although it will come as no surprise that there is a need for some warmer weather with bright light levels to encourage photosynthesis to help us deliver the size of fruit yield that is expected.”
Bramley, which celebrates its 200th anniversary next year, accounts for 42 per cent of all apples grown commercially in the UK.
In addition to being the nation’s favourite cooking apple, Bramley is the main variety used in the production of cider and in 2007 the industry was a victim of its own success, with the ‘Magners phenomenon’ severely affecting Bramley apple supply and pushing prices higher.
Acock is delighted that 2008 has seen the market return to stability. He said: “As the sole remaining processors and grower of the brand in England, it is likely that at some point everyone in the country has had a Fourayes Bramley. This means we are both a grower and a buyer of Bramleys, and a stable market is obviously good news for us and our many customers who use Fourayes apples in their products”
Fourayes is a third-generation family business and the sole remaining English-owned apple processor and supplier.
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