Drought leaves 'barely any apples' to make cider

Somerset's renowned cider orchards are suffering greatly due to a prolonged summer drought, according to local producers. Many trees have yielded no apples at all, while others have prematurely dropped their fruit, causing the orchards to produce only a tenth of their usual apple harvest. Farmers like Kimberly Jones of Honey's Cider near Bath have witnessed half of the apples falling before they ripened, attributing it to the trees being stressed by the drought.

Despite struggling with the lack of fruit, cider sales have been boosted by the popularity of cold cider during the hot summer. However, the long-term effects worry local farmers, as climate scientists warn of more frequent hot and dry summers. Neil MacDonald, a cider orchard manager, acknowledges that without water, trees simply discard their fruit to conserve energy.

MacDonald notes that the current crop loss is substantial, with some orchards expecting to harvest only 10 tonnes instead of the usual 20. The drought has also affected the taste of traditional West Country cider, as the Dabinett variety, which imparts the distinctive bittersweet flavor, is producing fewer apples due to the mild winter.

Cider growers are now exploring alternative varieties that are more resilient to the changing climate.