A bumper Bramley crop is set to put UK producers back in the picture after a number of disappointing seasons.
Adrian Barlow, chief executive of English Apples & Pears, said volumes were likely to be up by around 40 per cent to 90,000 tonnes this year.
He said: “The last few years, we’ve had very low crops coming out of Northern Ireland, but this year they’re expecting an excellent crop, which is a god-send, frankly.
“It’s going to make a huge difference for the processing side of the business. What’s important is that we can claw back some of the trade in that area that’s been lost.”
He said a key focus for the Bramley Campaign this season will be focusing on regaining any business lost during the leaner years.
“For example, we’ll be looking at caterers, food- service providers and manufacturers who may have delisted Bramley-based products due to lack of availability and getting those products re-instated.”
Elsewhere, the Bramley Campaign Group will be co-ordinating a series of high profile activities, ranging from Bramley Apple Pie week on October 11-17, and Bramley Apple week on February 7-13, to working with catering colleges and schools.
“We’ll be doing some PR with chef Antony Worrall Thompson, radio interviews, and with our schools programme we’re trying to use Bramley as a teaching mechanism.”
He said the BCG had had educational material printed up which is going into 20,000 schools, and also 4,500 after-school clubs to stimulate interest in the fruit.
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