Cider Production

Cider producers are facing growing concerns over the continued cold weather.  Currently the apple growing season is two and a half weeks behind last year’s, if cold temperatures continue there may be an effect on the size of the crop.  This comes after last year’s very poor harvest, which fell by around 20%, due to the wet weather.  The wet weather during the 2012 growing season is also affecting suppliers who have reported cases of rotten fruit increasing by 10%.  The cold summer in 2012 also decreased consumption of cider.  However there is some good news for apple growers next month, a Standing Committee will meet to decide if diphenylamine tolerance levels for imported fruit will be reduced from 0.5 parts per million to 0.2ppm. The pesticide Diphenylamine (DPA) is not allowed to be used in the EU but is widely used by growers elsewhere, if this change is agreed there could be opportunities for UK growers to increase market share.