While the apple crop has largely survived the varied weather problems of this year in all English production areas, pears have not been so lucky.

The dominant Conference variety is around 12.5 per cent down in volume year on year, with the latest figure available from English Apples & Pears (EAP) putting this season’s crop at 20,500 tonnes. Second string type Comice, which has never really made the breakthrough to become a mainstream offer in this country, is reduced by 13 per cent to 1,200t, according to EAP.

And the impression that Concord is on its way out has been reinforced by a 48 per cent drop in production this year. Frost damage as well as some grubbing and replacement in orchards has brought the Concord volume down to just 700t in 2008.

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