Industry looks forward with ‘Next Generation’ Orchard Project :: Print Version

Industry looks forward with ‘Next Generation’ Orchard Project

October 23 2008

Lizzy, one of the entirely new cider apple varieties being trialled in the ‘Next Generation of Cider Apple Orchards’ project

Cider apple orchards have been a well loved feature of the landscape for centuries but how they might look in the future in response to climate change and other factors may well be determined by a new study just launched by the cider industry.

The Pomology Group of the National Association of Cider Makers - the industry’s expert panel that leads research and development on apple and orchard issues - has just embarked on a five year project to establish ‘The Next Generation of Cider Apple Orchards.’

And it includes three entirely new cider apple varieties.

‘Over the years cider apple orchards have developed from traditional ‘standard’ orchard production, still common in the South West, to ‘bush’ orchards over a fairly long timescale but with a new range of challenges for the future such as climate change and increased regulation - it is important that we are aware of the issues and have strategies in place to deal with them,’ said Liz Copas one of the UK’s leading authorities on cider apples.

Liz said that growing conditions will change as our climate changes, current methods of spraying and harvesting may be questioned in the future and chemical usage may be reduced.

‘We need to have answers and solutions to these issues so that we can plan accordingly to ensure the health and prosperity of our industry,’ said Liz.

Among the objectives of the project will be assessing the best type of tree suited to the style of orchard, increasing yields and making them more consistent, developing systems to minimise drift and reduce pesticide wastage when spraying, and further mechanisation of orchard processes.

Three sites have been selected for the trials: two in Somerset and one in Hereford. Five varieties were selected: two well known cultivars: Dabinett cider apple and Katy juice apple, and three new cider apple varieties bred by Liz at Long Ashton: Lizzy, Tiny and Angela. These three are all early maturing varieties.

The orchard trials were designed by a statistician so that the results from the sites can be compared without any factor influencing one more than the others.