British growers report an exceptionally sweet new-season crop following a record-breaking summer.
British pear growers say this year’s crop could be among the sweetest they have tasted in decades, prompting British Apples & Pears Limited (BAPL) to ask whether 2026 might be remembered as ‘the year of the pear’.
The first new-season British pears are now being harvested following an extraordinarily warm growing season. Growers report that the abundant sunshine has helped their fruit develop particularly high levels of natural sweetness, alongside the juicy texture and delicate flavour for which British pears are prized.
At ACH Farming in Kent, Tom Hulme, managing director of one of the UK’s top five tree and stone-fruit grower-packers and a BAPL board director, has been testing the fruit using a refractometer. The instrument measures soluble solids in pear juice – expressed in degrees Brix – and provides an indication of its natural sugar content.
Tom Hulme said: “Conference pears here are typically reaching around 19% Brix this season, compared with about 12% historically. That confirms what we’re tasting – 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.”
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.”
The growers’ experience reflects a record-breaking season for the weather. According to provisional Met Office figures, England experienced its warmest spring on record in 2026, with above-average sunshine. July then became the sunniest July recorded across England, while Southern England experienced its warmest, driest and sunniest calendar month on record.
A fresh reason to put pears back on the menu
As well as their flavour, pears are an easy way to add more fruit and dietary fibre to our diets. An 80g serving of pear provides approximately 1.8g of fibre, according to the British Nutrition Foundation, while the NHS confirms that one medium pear counts as one of an adult’s five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
Pears require no preparation when eaten whole, making them a convenient addition to back-to-school or workplace packed lunches. They can also be sliced into porridge, yoghurt or salads, served with cheese, or enjoyed as an after-school snack.
Ali Capper, executive chair of British Apples & Pears, said: “Pears can sometimes be overlooked, but this season’s crop gives shoppers a wonderful reason to rediscover them. Our growers are telling us that the flavour and sweetness are among the best they have known.
“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.
“So, could this be the year of the pear? We certainly think it deserves to be. We’re encouraging everyone to look for British pears in their local supermarket and enjoy the new-season crop while it is at its best.”
British Apples & Pears is encouraging shoppers to check the country of origin on packs and choose British-grown fruit wherever possible.