The British apple crop is set to be down by around 20 per cent on last year’s average, growers organisations have warned. Fruit growers first warned at the beginning of the year that the mild winter, which was followed by a late frost that caused devastation to crops in the UK and throughout continental Europe, would affect yields of apples, pears and soft fruits.

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The inclement start to the year has been followed by a mild summer, which has seen some of the wettest weather on record for the time of year. This has hampered apples development and resulted in a higher disease risk in a number of regions and increased pest activity.

The resultant shortfall may affect the appearance of surviving fruits, and make UK produce more expensive this year, growers’ organisations have warned.

Ross on Wye fruit grower Andrew Jackson, who was interviewed about this year’s dreadful growing conditions on the BBC’s Farming Today Programme, said, “If you had come into the orchard in April there would have been a mass of blossom, and then we had rain, rain, rain and temperatures were way down; you have to have temperatures of over 10oC for apples to pollinate. If it’s below 10 degrees, they haven’t a chance. There were two weeks of rain and cold.”

Mr Jackson said he expects his entire fruit crop to generate £160,000 income this year, compared to last year when the same acreage brought in £1.6 million. He said, “We’ve had frosts, we’ve had gales, we’ve had all sorts of things. This year has been quite exceptional.”

The conditions have also affected plums, pears, cherries and other soft fruits throughout the UK. A shortage of good quality apples and pears has been predicted by growers’ organisations. Growers’ organisation English Apples and Pears has said that, although braeburn and cox apples are expected to suffer this year, gala apples may yield slightly higher than last year.

The European crop overall is expected to be down 10 per cent on last year. Although the situation has been dire in the UK, France has seen even worse conditions. Apple yields in the country are set to be 25 to 30 per cent lower than last year. Conditions in 2012 are thought to have been the worst experienced in over a decade.

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