The English apple season is officially the earliest on record.
Commercial volumes of Discovery apples are hitting stores across the UK this week, a fortnight earlier than normal after favourable conditions last winter combined with the warmest April on record to create a strong crop.
It is the earliest recorded in industry body English Apples & Pears' (EAP) 35-year history.
Good pollination and fruit set meant that - despite frosts in some areas - this year’s English crop is looking strong and is likely to run through until next May on some varieties.
Some 2,000 tonnes of Discovery are expected to be harvested with 1,500t of early Windsor and 2,000t of Worcester among the early varieties.
The early start has garnered widespread media attention on Sky News, BBC TV and BBC Radio Four and Two among others.
Among the major varieties, the season is likely to kick off in the first or second week of September.
EAP chief executive Adrian Barlow told freshinfo the English offer is likely to hit a clean market: “There is very little southern hemisphere overhang and there’s very little fruit left from last season’s European crop so prices are likely to be strong.
“The New Zealand situation [whereby NZ imports to the UK have become very expensive due to unfavourable exchange rates] highlights how important it is growers get good return to re-invest and grow the UK apple share.”
Barlow said the early season had left some growers searching for labour but was still a big positive.
See English apples being picked and packed as well as an interview with Adrian Barlow below.
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