With the 2020 apple harvest set to start in the coming weeks, growers are mostly looking at an improved crop this year.

“The volume was well down last year and was a 60% crop for most growers. This year looks to be better than that, but is not a bumper crop by any means,” said Co Armagh apple grower Hamilton Loney.

He said that yields are mixed within some orchards as frost earlier in the season affected fruit development, especially in low-lying areas.

The other weather issue was strong winds during Storms Ellen and Francis last month. This caused some fallen fruit, but the main issue for growers was younger trees snapping off at the root due to support stakes breaking.

“Newer type trees that have been planted over the past 10 or 15 years have smaller roots, so they stay smaller and easier to pick, but they have to be staked permanently,” explained Hamilton.

Labour

Earlier this year, fruit growers across the UK raised concerns about access to migrant labour due to coronavirus travel restrictions. The UK government subsequently announced exemptions to quarantine rules which allows seasonal workers to start work immediately under certain conditions.

However, Hamilton said that there are very few seasonal workers travelling to NI to pick fruit in 2020. Instead, apple growers are employing migrant workers who already live locally on a permanent basis.

“We still have to be careful and new measures are in place. Anyone who comes onto the farm gets their temperature taken,” he said.