Tesco’s English apple sales so far this season have been 50 per cent higher than last year, said buyer Martin de la Fuente, during a visit to the orchards of grower Adrian Scripps last week.

“The season has got off to a good start for everyone,” he said. “It’s already got some momentum and there is a significant improvement in growers’ returns compared with last year.”

He also said the multiple, which sells the largest proportion of English Gala and Braeburn, will struggle to get enough fruit, because the industry finds itself in a more competitive position against fruit from the rest of Europe. “Customers trust English fruit,” he said.