Apple growers across the UK are facing sharply reduced yields this year due to a combination of extreme weather events, including heatwaves, drought, frost, and hail. The impact has prompted some producers to consider transitioning to more heat-resistant apple varieties.
Adrian Scripps, a commercial orchard operator with 209 hectares in Kent, anticipates its apple crop will be about 15% smaller than usual. Tom Christensen, the company’s commercial manager, described 2026 as “an unprecedented year,” citing multiple challenges: frost and hail earlier in the season, followed by prolonged dry conditions and high temperatures. The orchard, which was one of the first in the UK to cultivate Pink Lady apples—originally developed in western Australia—now grows this variety on nearly a quarter of its land.
Meanwhile, cider apple production is also down significantly. David Sheppy, managing director of Sheppy’s Cider, which operates a 90-acre orchard, noted that in non-peak years, yields typically reach between 750 and 800 tonnes. This year, however, output is projected to fall to roughly 400 to 500 tonnes.
Smaller producers relying on traditional farming methods or lacking irrigation are experiencing even more severe losses. At Tatton Park near Knutsford, Cheshire, the heritage apple harvest has plummeted to just 6% of its normal volume. This drastic shortfall forced the estate to cancel its annual apple day event for the first time in 24 years. Tatton Park’s head gardener, Simon Tetlow, highlighted the role of milder winters, which reduce the natural pest control usually provided by cold weather. “Cold weather will kill lots of bugs—it’s the best thing going,” he explained.
In Somerset, Bere Cider Company owner Chris Smoldon echoed the difficulties faced by smaller growers. Typically harvesting about ten tonnes in a good year, the company expects to gather only three tonnes this season as the trees prematurely shed their fruit. Harvesting started earlier than usual, with more than half the crop already collected, a stark shift from previous years.
Despite the reduced apple supply, cider sales have remained strong due to the sunny summer weather, which encourages consumption. Smoldon noted, “Cider is a summer drink, so we want the sun because it means we sell more. We’ve got sun and no rain, which is absolutely wonderful for selling cider. It’s now become a bit of a problem because we haven’t got any apples.”
These developments illustrate the growing challenges UK apple producers face amid increasingly volatile weather patterns, prompting shifts in cultivation practices and potential adjustments to meet future climatic conditions.