The English Cox crop is expected to be 20-25 per cent higher in volume this season. Although all forecasts at this stage are subject to weather alteration, it also appears that there will be no repeat of the proliferation of over-sized fruit marketed last season.
English Apples & Pears figures released this week put the likely Cox volume at 52,000-53,000 tonnes, and a greater emphasis on polybags is likely in packhouses around the country.
Gala, which combined with Cox represents more than 75 per cent of the entire English dessert apple volume, will be 35-40 per cent larger in volume in the coming season, at an estimated 22,000t. Braeburn volumes will double to 5,000t, as the effect of new plantings begins to kick in.
And there are no particularly significant moves being made by other varieties, although club apple Cameo follows a relatively poor production year with an estimated crop of 1,000t.
Meanwhile, apple growers in County Armagh, Northern Ireland, have reported that the recent heatwave - with temperatures of up to 32°C - has cooked many of their apples on trees. They are predicting losses of up to 15 per cent of the crop.
The Fruit Growers’ Association has been quick to stress that there will be no shortage of Bramley, volume-wise, however. With 10-12 weeks of growing time left, apples will more than likely bulk up. Temperatures have cooled in recent days.
EA&P forecasts a 50,000t English Bramley crop and 35,000t from Northern Ireland, which, if all goes to plan, should provide a good balance between the fresh and processing markets.
In pears, the Conference crop is expected to reach no more than 75 per cent of last year’s 23,000t. Conference is more than 80 per cent of the entire English pear crop. Smaller volume varieties such as Comice and Williams are likely to produce similar yields to last season, while trials of Taylor’s Gold are more advanced and there will be higher commercial volume availability.
