Latest reports from the Pink Lady Association (Europe) indicate that the season for the premium apple variety is likely to start a few days ahead of last year. Starch levels in the fruit confirm that it is ripening on average three to four days earlier than last year. Fruit firmness is average compared to previous years.

But on skin colour, consistently cooler than average night-time temperatures from July onwards have encouraged skin coloration so that it is more advanced than in previous years. The first signs of colour were noted in the first 10 days of September and it has continued to deepen since them.

Refraction indicators are also good and acidity levels are largely the same as in recent previous seasons.

Conditions remain right for further fruit development so that early ripening areas in south-east France were due to begin harvesting this week with the majority of other orchards on schedule for first picking next week.

Dramatic floods on September 9 in the Cévennes hills in south-eastern France, have not affected Pink Lady production, reports the association. Only 50ha of 800ha of orchards in the south-east and a total of 2,300ha Europe-wide were reached by flood water but in most cases levels were not even high enough to reach the lowest branches. Only 10ha were flooded to levels above 40cm.

If there is any fruit that came contact with floodwater it will not be marketed and initial quality tests on fruit from these orchards prove that the 2002 crop remains unaffected. 'Furthermore the week after the heavy rain was followed by a few days of the drying Mistral wind, aided by further dry weather, which has since continued,' said association president Didier Crabos. 'This has allowed the orchards to return quickly to their normal growing pattern and the trees themselves to regain their equilibrium, resulting in the production of healthy, good quality apples.' The Pink Lady crop European crop is grown in the south-east and south-west of France, the Loire Valley and in northern Italy and north-eastern Spain.

Meanwhile, this month, as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, TV presenter Lauren Laverne, best-known for Channel 5's hit show POP, has teamed up with Pink Lady Apples and The Breast Cancer Campaign to promote health awareness with the unveiling of a stylish t-shirt. The limited edition designer garment has been specially created for Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a striking apple core design that complements Pink Lady's heart-shaped logo. For every one of the t-shirts sold (rrp £19.99), a £2 donation will be made to the Breast Cancer Campaign.

Topics