British apple and pear FAQs

Depending on the variety, it takes between five and six months from bud break to harvest for the apple crop. That tends to be from May to September or October.

However, some varieties are harvested a little earlier than September and some are not harvested until November. Check out the varieties for more details.

Apples are so good for you that they could be called a superfood! Scientific studies have shown that apples help decrease the risk of heart disease, cancer, and asthma.

Apple consumption may also be associated with a lower risk for diabetes. In a Finnish study of 10,000 people, a reduced risk of Type II diabetes was associated with apple consumption. Higher quercetin intake, a major component of apple peels, was also associated with a decreased risk in type II diabetes.

Apples are also great for gut health and can help as part of a weight-loss programme as their slow-release energy and high fibre helps us feel fuller longer.

Find out more about apple and pear health benefits.

Hundreds of different apple varieties are grown in the UK. Some of the most popular are Gala, Braeburn, Cox and Bramley. Visit our varieties page to find out more.

Our growers produce around 166,000 tonnes of apples and pears each year. That includes around 1.3 billion dessert apples. The vast majority of those get eaten by apple lovers in the UK.

Those that aren’t up to the tight supermarket specifications may go for juicing or other types of processing.

There is such strong demand for home-grown apples here in the UK, that we only export around 3% of our crop. We are looking to expand production and open up more export markets in the future.

The Pink Lady variety is commonly grown in France, Italy, America, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

However, the first British Pink Lady orchards have now been planted and they are already bearing fruit. You can find them in shops around Christmas time, but there are still in relatively small quantities.

Make sure you look out for union jacks on packaging to identify British-grown apples.

Supermarkets have quite tight specifications for British apples and our growers work hard to grow exactly the right kind of apples to meet those standards. However, we are working with nature and not every single apple meets those standards. Those apples are not wasted. They are used for lots of different things like apple juice and pie filling. 

No, apples are not high in sugar. British apples are one of the most popular fruits in the UK, and for good reason. While apples do contain sugar – around 12g per
100g, it’s naturally occurring and, combined with the high fibre in a whole apple, it offers fantastic slow-release energy.

Apples have so many health benefits that they could be called a superfood. Scientific studies have shown that apples help decrease the risk of heart disease, cancer, and asthma. Explore our health benefits page for more.

Yes, don’t peel your British apples. Unpeeled apples have almost twice the fibre, 40% more vitamin A and 25% more potassium than a peeled apple, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s National Nutrient Database. Research has also shown much higher levels of  antioxidants in apple peel too.

Apples will last much longer – for six to eight weeks – if you keep them in the fridge.

They’ll taste just as delicious wherever you store them, but the fridge is best if you want to store them for as long as possible.

British apples are nutritious and affordable snacks on the go, with a single apple costing around 34p. In comparison, a single bar of chocolate or a packet of crisps is more than double the price and with little to no nutritional value.

Look for the Union Jack: Keep an eye out for the Union Jack on packaging and signage. Many supermarkets highlight it on displays, making it quick and easy to spot tasty British apples.

Check the white box: Look closer at the white box information on each packet, where you’ll find details on the variety and where it was grown. Even if there’s no Union Jack packaging, this section will confirm you’re holding Great British apples.

Ask the fresh produce manager: Can’t find our delicious British apples? Visit the fresh produce section and ask the manager—they’re there to help and may have helpful tips on locating British apples in store.

Keep asking: If you’re still on the search, ask the store manager. They’ll want to support what matters to their customers. Sometimes recent deliveries sell out fast, but keep checking, and you’ll soon find British apples to enjoy.