Sales of English dessert apples are up on last year with Royal Gala expected to remain on retail shelves for another week.

Gala volume sales to date are 49,000 tonnes, a 16 per cent increase on last year’s 42,000t, and the crop is expected to top 50,000t by the end of its season, according to new figures from trade body English Apples & Pears (EAP).

While Cox and Braburn have now finished, the extended Gala season has been hailed as “extraordinary” by EAP, as just six years ago it was not recommended to store the variety past the end of January.

Cox volumes rose from 18,100t to 19,600t while Braeburn reached 23,300t from 21,100t last year. All other dessert varieties dipped slightly from 20,400t to 20,000t, but this is expected to rise after late varieties are counted.

Bramley sales fell from 15,100t to 12,400t, with the shortfall due to insufficient product to meet demand, after consistently low returns led to some growers grubbing orchards.

The news comes as Kent businessman Steven Munday is poised to take over as new EAP chief executive, with incumbent Adrian Barlow set to remain as chairman for the immediate future.

Barlow said in 10 years the industry has just about doubled volumes of dessert apples sold to retail. “Since 2006-7 when records began, there has been a steady increase, with the exception of 2012-13 which saw a dip due to the weather,' he told FPJ.

“My greatest concern is if price and returns to growers do not improve, we will begin to see the grubbing in Bramley gradually move across to dessert apples, which would be an absolute tragedy.”

Sainsbury’s once again sold the most English apples, although its share of the market fell slightly from 31.5 per cent to 26.7 per cent – a dip that Barlow described as “slightly disappointing”. But he added: “Compared to their grocery share it is fantastic support. Tesco have again done a great job, with sales increasing by just over 2,000t.”

Waitrose’s share fell slightly, although at 8.7 per cent it overtrades compared to total grocery, while Asda undertrades with a 8.2 per cent share of the English apple market. “We would like to see Asda grow their share, while Morrisons have said next season they’re going to be backing English apples in a big way.”

Barlow said Iceland’s entry to the English apple market this year was “great news”, and revealed that a leading English top-fruit supplier will be selling to Amazon Fresh next season in a further boost to homegrown sales.

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