Great British Apples

24/06/2026

🐞 Tiny helpers, big impact! 🍐 These little insects may be small, but they're playing an important role in British pear orchards.

The team at Goatham's have released Anthocorid bugs, one of nature's own pest controllers, into their pear orchards. Their job? To help keep populations of Pear Sucker in check.

Pear Sucker feeds on pear trees and can reduce fruit quality if left unmanaged. By introducing beneficial insects early in the season, growers can establish natural predators before the pest becomes a problem.

It's just one example of how British growers work with nature to support healthy orchards, encourage biodiversity and protect this year's crop. 🌱

📸 Thanks to AC Goatham for sharing this glimpse into orchard life.

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23/06/2026

☀️ Picnic season = British apple season 🍎 Whether it’s beach days, road trips, park picnics or family days out, British apples are one of the easiest snacks to throw in the bag this summer.
Refreshing, affordable and ready to eat wherever the day takes you 🇬🇧
Where’s your favourite picnic spot? 👇

17/06/2026

🌼 Not everything that grows in a British orchard is a fruit... 🍎

Take a look beneath the rows of these British Kissabel apple trees growing at A Hinge & Sons and you'll find a thriving community of wildflowers, including beautiful ox-eye daisies.

These flowers do far more than brighten up the orchard. They provide food and habitat for pollinators and beneficial insects, helping to support the wider ecosystem that British apple growers work hard to encourage.

Healthy orchards are about much more than apples alone. From bees and hoverflies to ladybirds and butterflies, biodiversity plays an important role in creating resilient, productive growing environments.

Next time you bite into a British apple, remember there's a whole world of wildlife helping to make it possible. 🌼🐝🍎

Have you spotted any ox-eye daisies or wildflowers near you recently? Let us know in the comments 👇

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16/06/2026

🍎 Swap just ONE snack this week for a British apple. Refreshing, affordable and ready to grab straight from the fridge 🇬🇧

Whether it’s the afternoon snack run, lunchtime treat or post-gym bite, British apples are one of the easiest swaps you can make this summer ☀️

If you do it, let us know below 👇

12/06/2026

🍎 Most people are missing out on a key nutrient linked to heart health.

New research involving the University of Reading suggests that many people may be missing out on flavanols, naturally occurring plant compounds associated with cardiovascular benefits.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Professor Gunter Kuhnle discussed the research and highlighted apples as a good source of flavanols, alongside foods and drinks such as tea, berries and other fruits.

It’s another reminder that simple everyday choices matter, and that British apples are a nutritious, affordable snack to enjoy as part of a varied, balanced diet. 🍎

Listen now! https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0nqrj23

Researchers say some five-a-day fruit and vegetables are better than others.

10/06/2026

🍎 Looking for a snack that still offers great value this June? British apples remain one of the UK’s most affordable fresh fruits, packed with flavour, fibre and crunch in every bite. 🇬🇧

Perfect for lunchboxes, work breaks or straight from the fridge on a warm day ☀️
What’s your favourite British apple variety right now? 👇

📸 Tesco

07/06/2026

Could a simple British apple help you stay stronger for longer? 🍎 Research has linked quercetin, a natural plant compound found in apples, with a lower risk of frailty as we age.

And here’s the good news: quercetin is most concentrated in the skin, and many British apples are naturally rich in deep red colouring, making them an especially good source ❤️

So whether it’s keeping active in the garden, getting out for walks, or simply feeling more like yourself for longer, your daily British apple could be doing more than you think.

Find out more about the science behind this British superfood:
👉 https://www.britishapplesandpears.co.uk/apples-quercetin/

A diet containing the flavonoid quercetin is associated with lower chances of developing frailty in our 60s. Good news for apple lovers.

06/06/2026

🍎 Confidence in the future starts with planting for it.

Despite the challenges facing British fruit growers, investment in the future of home-grown produce continues.

At Stevens Farm in Hawkhurst, David and Richard Budd have just planted 17,000 new Braeburn apple trees across 6.5 hectares. Using a specialist planting machine and a team of four operatives, they were able to establish 4,000-5,000 trees per day.

These trees won't produce a crop overnight. Planting decisions like this are long-term investments that require confidence, commitment and a belief in the future of British apples and pears.

Every new orchard planted today is an investment in the future of British food security, helping ensure more of the apples and pears eaten in the UK can be grown right here at home. 🍎🇬🇧

05/06/2026

🌳🌱🍏 Update: Our growers are using this innovative grass-cutting machine between British apple trees to manage the alleyways at AC Hulme & Sons.

The cut grass is discharged under the trees, creating a natural mulch that’s full of benefits:

🌿 It conserves water by reducing transpiration, keeping the soil moist.
🪱 Worms love green waste! They pull it down into the soil, boosting soil health.
🚫 By preventing w**d growth, it reduces the need for herbicides — a key part of our integrated pest management (IPM) strategy.

Another step towards sustainable and efficient British apple growing! 🍎

03/06/2026

Wait… how are these ladybirds helping grow British apples?! 🍎🐞😂 Ladybirds are some of the orchard’s most valuable tiny workers. A single ladybird can eat thousands of aphids, helping protect leaves, blossom and developing apples naturally.

And this pair? They’re helping create the next generation of aphid-hunters for British orchards 🇬🇧🍎