Apple growers, wholesalers and market tenants gathered at New Covent Garden Market in London to celebrate this year’s crop and explore future avenues for growth
English apples growers and wholesalers gathered to celebrate National Apple Day at New Covent Garden Market in London today, Wednesday 21 October.
The morning event was an opportunity for market tenants to mingle with wholesalers and growers with the aim of nurturing existing relationships and opening up new apple avenues.
It also provided an opportunity for market tenants to thank growers from across the country, and to raise a toast to the high-quality new-season homegrown crop.
According to industry body British Apples & Pears (BAPL), this year’s apple and pear crop had the best eating quality in years thanks to the summer’s warm weather helping the fruit to develop excellent sweetness, colour and aroma.
This year also saw record topfruit sales, with apples reaching a record 162,331 tonnes, an increase of 8.6 per cent on 2024/25, according to BAPL.
With the closest apple sales contest in 13 years, Tesco took the top award after selling 34,436 tonnes, just 190 tonnes ahead of Aldi’s record total of 34,246 tonnes.
New figures from BAPL also revealed that discounters Aldi and Lidl accounted for the largest shares of British appl es sold to supermarkets in September 2026.
As London’s leading wholesale market, NCGM is a vital link between British growers and buyers.
Rob McAuliffe, general manager of Covent Garden Market Authority (CGMA), said: “Tip-top quality produce is absolutely key to our wholesalers and their customers, and despite the many challenges they face, British growers consistently deliver it.
“National Apple Day is a good opportunity to say we’re proud of our partnerships with English apple growers, delighted to be their connection with London’s buyers and that this market is there to support them and all British growers throughout the year, every year,” he added.
