Stories

Tue, 25 Aug 2026

Tue, 25 Aug 2026 Drought leaves 'barely any apples' to make cider

Some orchards are harvesting just a 10th of their usual crop, and facing an uncertain future.

* Producers are estimating that the crop will be only 10-20% of what it would normally be, with some farmers expecting to lose up to half of their usual harvest.
* The drought has stressed the trees, causing them to dump their unripe fruit on the ground to conserve energy.
* Some growers have already resorted to watering newly planted trees and are experimenting with grafting other varieties onto their Dabinett trees, which were particularly affected by the mild winter.
* Cider makers are now worried about the long-term impact of climate change on their industry, including the possibility of losing traditional apple varieties and changes in flavor profiles.