British pears reaching almost 20 per cent Brix after hot, sunny summer, raising prospects for 2026 to be ‘the year of the pear’
British pears could be sweeter than ever this year, according to UK growers, as harvesting gets underway for the first new-season pears.
Following an extraordinarily warm growing season, growers have reported unusally high levels of natual sweetness alongside a juicy and deliate flavour, according to crop association British Apples & Pears (BAPL).
The exceptional sweetness of this year’s crop has prompted BAPL to ask whether 2026 could be remembered as “the year of the pear”.
Ali Capper, executive chair of BAPL, said: “Our growers are telling us that the flavour and sweetness are among the best they have known.”
British pears this year are reaching almost 20 per cent Brix, compared to about 12 per cent historically, according to Tom Hulme, BAPL board director and managing director of ACH Farming.
Hulme said: “This is one of the sweetest pear crops I can remember, and the flavour is exceptional.
“The figures are impressive, but the real proof comes when you bite into one. They’re sweet, juicy and full of flavour. If you haven’t eaten a pear for a while, this is the year to try one,” he added.
Provisional figures from the Met Office show that England experienced its warmest spring on record in 2026, while southern England experiencing its warmest, driest and sunniest calendar month on record.
While extreme temperatures and drought have created challenges for many fresh produce categories, UK topfruit growers have generally fared better, with berries and apples also benefiting from the conditions.
Ross Goatham, managing director of AC Goatham & Son, the UK’s largest apple and pear grower, said: “We’ve had a remarkable amount of warmth and sunshine. Although the very dry weather has presented challenges and required very careful orchard management, those bright growing conditions have helped the pears develop a beautifully rich, natural sweetness.”
BAPL represents over a million pear trees across approximately 702 hectares of British orchards, and is encouraging shoppers to choose British-grown fruit wherever possible.
Capper said: “Pears can sometimes be overlooked, but this season’s crop gives shoppers a wonderful reason to rediscover them.
“They are naturally delicious, provide dietary fibre and are wonderfully convenient - whether packed whole in a lunchbox, sliced over breakfast or simply eaten as a snack,” she added.
