Frosts take a toll on this year’s English apple harvest

ENGLAND’S apple harvest could be down by a fifth after harsh spring frosts damaged the young fruit.

Temperatures of -4C this April have resulted in lower yields according to the producers group English Apples & Pears.

Picking is now under way but growers are also concerned that many apples are blemished or smaller than hoped for.

A line of brown scaly skin called ‘frost ring’ appears on apples hit by frost.

While they are perfectly healthy and tasty, they do not meet the appearance standards demanded by some supermarkets. Tesco, Britain’s biggest fruit seller, has responded by relaxing its rules.

James Simpson, managing director of Kent grower Adrian Scripps, said: ‘Cox appears to be the worst affected, with other varieties coming through almost untouched.’