Environmental campaigners have hit out at the supermarkets accusing them of failing UK apple producers.

Friends of the Earth claims a recent survey found that two thirds of the apples sold at the height of the UK season came from overseas.

Despite this, some UK growers said they were happy with the level of support the retailers had been giving them this season.

Steve Maxwell, marketing director with Worldwide Fruit said: “Our UK growers have in the main been impressed and pleased by the level of commitment shown by our customers.

“There has been real focus on promoting UK apples through October and November, although additional focus is always welcome.”

According to the pressure group’s survey, Tesco was the worst offender with only a quarter of its apple lines coming from the UK.

Re:fresh winners Somerfield were found to have the highest percentage of UK fruit, with 42 per cent, followed by Sainsbury’s with 40 per cent.

Robin Webster, a Friends of the Earth food campaigner said: "The big supermarkets are using their market power to source cheap produce around the world, pushing UK growers and local shops out of business and also contributing to climate change.”

The report praised smaller greengrocers, which were found to be sourcing half their apples from the UK, while also offering a more diverse range.

The findings came from a survey of 181 supermarkets and 63 greengrocers carried out by volunteers across one day on October 15.

However, Tesco has dismissed the results. A spokesman said: "This is absolute nonsense. Not only do independent industry figures show Tesco has sold more English apples than anyone else this week, but we are confident that by the end of the season we will have had a record year."

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