New analysis commissioned by British Apples & Pears Limited (BAPL) from Andersons Farm Consulting highlights that UK apple and pear growers will face around a 2% increase in overall cost of production for the 2026 season, driven by persistent inflationary pressures across key areas of orchard management and post-harvest operations.
This latest assessment of cost pressures underlines a continued squeeze on grower margins at a time when the sector is already under strain from labour cost rises, energy price volatility, and structural cost increases.
According to the Andersons analysis, the biggest areas of inflation are in:
- Growing and harvest costs, up nearly 3%, driven by labour-related activities such as pruning, thinning and harvesting.
- Overhead costs, also rising by 3%, including full-time labour, machinery depreciation, repairs, insurance, property costs and finance.
- Storage, grading, packing and marketing, which together increased by 2% and remain one of the largest absolute cost centres for growers.
With growers’ margins already eroded, these cost pressures continue a trend BAPL highlighted in 2024, when analysis showed that government policy—particularly around labour costs—was driving unavoidable inflation across the fresh produce sector.
Ali Capper, executive chair of BAPL, commented: “Once again, independent analysis confirms that the cost of growing, storing and packing British apples and pears continues to rise. Growers cannot absorb these increases. Fair returns are required to protect investments in orchard area, storage and packing facilities.
“These cost increases are modest in percentage terms but critical in real-world impact. They compound year after year, and growers are now operating on margins that are unsustainably thin. If retailers want a thriving British apple and pear sector, they must reflect these genuine, independent cost increases in the returns to growers.”
“Shoppers want British fruit,” Ali Capper said. “But without investment, we cannot deliver the volumes, quality and innovation that consumers expect. Fair returns today secure British apples and pears for tomorrow.
“Our ambition is clear: to grow British apples’ market share and increase availability for shoppers. We know consumers want more British fruit. With the right long-term conditions, we can expand production, invest in innovation, modernise our stores, and bring forward exciting new varieties.”
To safeguard the future of British apple and pear production, BAPL is calling on UK retailers to:
- Provide fair, sustainable returns. Recognise independently verified inflation in growers’ costs and ensure that returns enable reinvestment.
- Commit to long-term partnerships. Offer multi-year supply relationships that provide growers with confidence to plant and maintain orchards and infrastructure.
- Support British produce. Prioritise British apples and pears wherever possible, strengthening the resilience of the UK’s food system.