Apple revival

Demand for local food is leading to an apple and pear revival in the United Kingdom, says this USDA Foreign Agricultural Service report. From the mid-December report:

Up until two years ago UK apple and pear production was in decline after many UK producers 'grubbed-up' their orchards in response to European Union production policy.

TK: Grubbed up? That's a new one...

Today UK production is experiencing something of a revival in response to strong consumer interest in buying local and seasonal produce. Demand for UK apples and pears is said to be outstripping supply, and each of the main UK supermarket chains are actively competing with each other to source home -grown fruit and to promote old English heritage varieties.

TK: I wonder if this trend for heritage varieties will come to the U.S.

There are over 400 commercial growers of apples and pears in the UK, covering an area of around 10,000 hectares. The UK's main commercial orc hards are located in the South East of England, particularly in the counties of Kent, East and West Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire. With renewed vigor in UK production, there is diversification away from the traditional dessert apple variety of Cox towards Gala, Braeburn, and newer varieties such as Jazz (Braeburn/Royal Gala cross) and Kanzi (Gala/Braeburn cross). The latter two varieties are available in commercial volumes in the UK for the first time this year. In fact, 200,000 Jazz trees have been planted over 200 acres in the last 1-2 years representing the largest single variety planting that the UK industry has experienced for many years. In addition, the Elstar/Gala cross known as Rubens has been under trial for the last three years in the UK, and 100,000 trees are intended to be planted by 2008.

TK: Jazz coming on strong, thanks to Enza.

Research and development into UK apple production is also increasing. UK supermarket chains are working with local growers to try to increase volume in a sustainable way, and to
explore the production of organic varieties that can grow in the British climate. Several of the major supermarket chains are closely linked to trial sites carrying a range of varieties. Sainsbury's Supermarkets appears to be leading the way with its “Concept Orchard” scheme in conjunction with Orchard World (http://www.orchardworld.co.uk/products/). The principal goal of the scheme is to boost yields through high-density planting, and to build up the UK's organic range with traditional English varieties as well as newer varieties. The British share of the UK organic apple market currently stands at only three percent. Domestic apples and pears are usually available on the UK market from mid- September to the end of January (depending on supplies). In one marketing year, UK production currently supplies 20 percent of the total UK apple market, and 16 percent of the total UK pear market. Apple imports increased 21 percent by value in the year to June 2007 (marketing year 2006). However, they decreased one percent by volume. Fresh fruit (as is also the case with all other major food groups) has experienced price inflation in response to greater costs of global production and distribution. US apple exports to the UK primarily consist of premium Red Delicious, Cripps Pink (marketed as Pink Lady), Empire, McIntosh, and organic variants of these. US exports to the UK increased 10 percent by value in the year to June 2007, and 3 percent by volume.

TK; U.S. exports haven't taken a significant hit yet with the "apple revival" but retail investment in the UK apple sector is a model built on self-interest with a view toward generating consumer goodwill.