As a new season approaches and the first 'early UK apples' appear in farm shops and the prospect of vintage apple and pear quality this season looks very promising!
Via BAPL Orchard Watch: "Good crop, UK apple and pear growers share their predictions for the 2025 harvest
September 2025 will mark the start of the new British apple and pear season, and UK growers say that a dry growing season has not hampered the developing fruit. Instead, 2025 could be the best for quality and flavour for many years.
Young apples and pears are now growing and ripening slowly in orchards across the UK. Growers have been reviewing their crops closely and have set out the following predictions for the coming season:
Apple volumes are generally looking good. While variations from orchard to orchard exist, the overall apple crop is looking good. Expectations are that it will be up a little on 2024.
Beautiful skin finish and sweeter flavours. In general, the 2025 crop is looking stunning. The skin finish is excellent, with much of the russet seen last year not so prevalent this year. The warm, sunny weather over recent weeks is generating a delicious, sweet flavour
Fruit trees holding up well in dry conditions. Apple and pear growers have been keeping a close eye on whether the lack of rain is stressing their trees. Fortunately, the vast majority of orchard trees are holding up well.
However, some orchards have experienced recent hail damage to their fruit which is a concern at this late stage in the season. Growers are keeping their fingers crossed the weather will be kind from now on to protect the wonderful crop developing this year.
Below: Ali Capper
Commenting on the grower predictions, Ali Capper, executive chair of British Apples & Pears Limited (BAPL), said: "For once the Spring weather has been quite kind to growers. The fruit really is looking stunning and we're very hopeful that 2025 will be a great British apple and pear year.
"However, there is still time for the weather to affect the size of the fruit. Substantial rainfall will likely increase the size, while dry conditions will likely mean smaller fruit. What we do know is that whatever the size, the skin finish and sweet flavour profile will be very appealing to consumers."
As in recent years, BAPL members are working closely with retailers to create in-store theatre celebrating the best of British top fruit from the month of October 2025 onwards. TV advertising and strong social media promotion in recent years really helped to raise the profile of new season apples with shoppers. It's hoped that this year will be an even bigger celebration.
BAPL will also be investing heavily again in social media advertising at the start of new season to showcase the 'superfood' health benefits of British apples and encourage shoppers to seek out British apples and pears in store
Below: left. A Gala Tree and right. Picking train last week with Discovery apples
Click on: Tractor and picking train 2025
Below: left. Gala Wildfire and right. A bunch of high coloured standard Gala
Gala Wildfire is a newer clone of Gala maturing 2-3 weeks earlier than the standard clones. The original Gala had a low requirement of 10% red colour, but the discovery of Royal Gala initiated much better red surface colour. Over the years there has been a plethora of new clones found with increasingly higher red colour. Even as I write two new ones have been named as T-REX and TIGERGALA
Below: By early September Gala picking for long term storage will be underway
Below: Most of the large growers will be using Harvesting machines
Click on: Video - Robert Hinge talking about Gala Wildfire
That is all for this week - my apologies for late publication - Saturday 9th August @ 2pm
Take care
The English Apple Man