Commercial organic apple growing in the UK will become a reality within two years, say producers’ representatives.
Most organic apples sold in this country are imported because growing conditions here do not suit organic production of the apples most commonly grown in the UK.
But a successful £500,000 trial looks set to change all that - provided the group driving the initiative wins further funding.
English Apples and Pears chief executive Adrian Barlow said: “We know demand and sales are rising, but the majority
bought are still imported. This is because organic apples grown here are prone to disease and pest attacks.”
For the past five years a consortium of businesses, including Sainsbury and Waitrose, have been scouring the world for varieties that can be grown in the UK’s climate and, crucially, have resistance to pests and to scab and mildew.
Researchers found 160 varieties, which were whittled down to 27 on the basis of taste and orchard performance.
Experts looked closely at how well these varieties performed when grown in countries with climatic conditions similar to the UK. They have now reduced their short-list to five dessert, two culinary and two juicers.
East Malling Research has planted three hectares of orchard so that the nine varieties can be observed growing under UK conditions.
But the project, which was half-funded by Defra under its Link initiative, has now run its course and EA&P’s Barlow has admitted that more funding is needed to take it forward.
“There are a further six projects we need to undertake, including further research into storage of these varieties.”
Barlow said he hoped the success of the project would make it easier to get further grants. “Defra’s Programme Management Committee marked us eight out of 10, which is very high,” he added.
Richard Clarke
Most organic apples sold in this country are imported because growing conditions here do not suit organic production of the apples most commonly grown in the UK.
But a successful £500,000 trial looks set to change all that - provided the group driving the initiative wins further funding.
English Apples and Pears chief executive Adrian Barlow said: “We know demand and sales are rising, but the majority
bought are still imported. This is because organic apples grown here are prone to disease and pest attacks.”
For the past five years a consortium of businesses, including Sainsbury and Waitrose, have been scouring the world for varieties that can be grown in the UK’s climate and, crucially, have resistance to pests and to scab and mildew.
Researchers found 160 varieties, which were whittled down to 27 on the basis of taste and orchard performance.
Experts looked closely at how well these varieties performed when grown in countries with climatic conditions similar to the UK. They have now reduced their short-list to five dessert, two culinary and two juicers.
East Malling Research has planted three hectares of orchard so that the nine varieties can be observed growing under UK conditions.
But the project, which was half-funded by Defra under its Link initiative, has now run its course and EA&P’s Barlow has admitted that more funding is needed to take it forward.
“There are a further six projects we need to undertake, including further research into storage of these varieties.”
Barlow said he hoped the success of the project would make it easier to get further grants. “Defra’s Programme Management Committee marked us eight out of 10, which is very high,” he added.
Richard Clarke
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