Movement of New York apples this season continues “at a very brisk pace”, said Jim Allen, president of the New York Apple Association.

“The eastern movement was 50 per cent above last year at this time and prices are slowly gaining strength, but we still have ample stocks to move.”

The UK business is doing very well, added Allen, and the quality of the crop is “excellent”. “If you don’t delight the customers, the product won’t move,” he said.