Size problems reduce for English apple crop

The English dessert apple crop is unlikely to be beset by size problems this season, as colder weather in the last couple of months slowed down growth. There were expectations of a well-above-average size profile, but the anticipated surplus of 75mm-plus fruit will not now materialise. The cooler temperatures have also been beneficial for colour, and juice content is high. English Apples & Pears chief executive Adrian Barlow’s official prognosis for the campaign has been amended to “not vintage, but good” after previous concern.The latest EAP-generated production forecast – released on Tuesday – puts Cox at 10 per cent higher than 2006 (47,700 tonnes of the variety). Gala volumes will rise by around 19 per cent to 26,400t, short of the 30,000t that Barlow believes could be sold, but certainly no disaster. He was more tentative about Braeburn output. “The figures we have suggest a crop of 8,000t, 32 per cent up, but I am slightly nervous about that, as there may well be more hail damage to come through,” Barlow told FPJ.Egremont Russet volume should rise to 5,300t (up 35 per cent), and Spartan by seven per cent to 1,750t. And the first commercial volumes of Jazz, combined with expanding volumes of Cameo and Kanzi, are expected to push the “other desserts” category 54 per cent higher, to 6,500t. The media bandwagon behind the UK apple industry picked up pace in the last seven days, with new-season apples receiving widespread coverage in the national press. Next Tuesday, designated as the official launch of the season, will see Barlow appear on various radio and TV broadcasts across the country.