25 years work comes to fruition

New varieties of cider apples will be harvested this Autumn for the first time after a development programme lasting more than 25 years.

Across three orchards – each 1 hectare (2½ acres) - the fruit will be collected and samples analysed before the crop is then used to make cider.

The long-term project is being managed by the National Association of Cider Makers (NACM) as part of ongoing research to improve the quality of apples available to cider makers.

Working on the project throughout has been Liz Copas, consultant pomologist to the NACM and a leading authority on cider apples.

One new variety has been named ‘Lizzy’ after the orcharding expert. Said Liz : ‘Harvest is an important and exciting time but even more so given the time and effort invested to produce new varieties. We hope to prove that the new fruit offers growers and cider makers the best combination of juice quality and high yields whilst requiring limited intervention during the growing season.’

One trial site is managed by Thatchers Cider near Sandford south of Bristol. Other orchards involved in the work are at Perrins Hill Farm, Tintinhull, Somerset and Bulmers’ orchard at Staunton, Hereford.Some 29 new varieties of cider apple have been created following a selection and propagation process that started in 1984. The final selection was made in 2007 and a first crop is being harvested in this month. It can take up to five years for new orchards to produce apples and it is typically ten years before the grower will breakeven following the investment to plant a new orchard.

Cider apples differ from culinary and dessert fruit as the cider maker is interested in what flavours are present in the apple juice to be able to produce a range of styles of cider are possible.
Hundreds of varieties of apples each offer different levels of tannin, acidity, astringency and natural sweetness – all the components that combine to produce the flavours and character in cider (as in wine).

Said NACM spokesman, Simon Russell: ‘This work is really important for growers and cider makers. The investment in research and development is a key part of the work undertaken by the NACM for the benefit of the industry and for the rural environment more generally. It also recognises the long-term nature of the industry. The investment cycle in cider is measured in decades and in terms of planning that is why it is so important for us to have a sensible and stable duty regime.’

In the last 15 years many thousands of acres of new orchards have been planted to keep pace with the increasing demand for cider.

•   The new apple varieties are: Lizzy; Prince William; Amelia; Amanda; Jenny; Hastings; Connie; Helen’s Apple; Three Counties; Jane; Tina; Early Bird; Vicky; Naomi; Nicky; Angela; Gilly; Willy; Joanna; Maggie; Hannah; Jean; Sally; Fiona; Shamrock; Tracey; Eleni; Betty and Debbie and they join the 365 + varities already grown in the UK

•     Nearly half of all the apples grown in the UK are used to make cider and around 150,000 tonnes of apples will be pressed in the next 10-12 weeks

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