Processing prices for Bramley apples have doubled since 2002 to £200 per tonne, meaning growers may prefer to sell their graded fruit for juice and pulp rather than the fresh market by the time summer arrives. The 60,000t crop, including Northern Ireland, is 45 per cent lighter than 2001's.

Adrian Barlow, chief executive of English Apples & Pears, said the body is supporting marketing organisations' requests to the retail customers for 'reasonable' prices to avoid a shortfall.

'There is already pressure to meet these demands,' he said. 'We have been flagging up the possible dangers since the first crop estimates came in last autumn.

'Marketing organisations should keep a close watch on the situation and constantly discuss this with their customers. There will, however, be sufficient fruit to back the forthcoming Bramley week running from February 3-9.'