The department has not made a formal assessment of the impact of changes in demand for cider on cider apple orchards or the farmers who depend on them. A range of factors can affect the viability of orchards, including production costs, yields, market conditions and consumer demand. Defra continues to engage with stakeholders on issues relating to cider apple orchards and supports their management through agri-environment schemes and grants.

This Government currently has no plans to change the rules governing minimum juice content in cider and perry. The current minimum juice content requirements provide flexibility for producers, support product variety and innovation, and maintain consumer choice.

The department has not made a formal assessment of the relationship between minimum juice content requirements for cider and perry products and the economic viability of UK cider apple and perry pear orchards. A range of factors can affect the viability of orchards, including production costs, yields, market conditions, and consumer demand. Defra continues to engage with stakeholders on issues relating to cider and perry orchards and supports their management through agri-environment schemes and grants.

The Government has no plans to change the rules governing juice content in cider and perry. Mid-range juice content ciders remain the most popular with consumers and are the most typical form of cider served on draught and in cans. We recognise the importance of both traditional craft ciders and mid-range juice content ciders in supporting a dynamic and innovative market and maintaining consumer choice.

The Seasonal Worker visa route is hugely important for the horticulture sector, including the apple and pear industry. Government made a total of 43,000 seasonal worker visas available for horticulture in 2025.  The Government has also announced a 5-year extension to the Seasonal Worker visa route to provide stability and certainty to the horticulture sector, and we can confirm that 41,000 visas will be available for 2026 for the horticulture sector.

The expanded Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer published in May 2024 includes capital grants to plant cider apple trees as part of an Agro-forestry system, and ongoing payments for actions which could be used in or around cider orchards such as flower rich grass margins blocks or strips, Integrated Pest Management plans, or managing hedgerows. Looking ahead, we will optimise Environmental Land Management schemes including SFI in an orderly way, over time, ensuring they produce the right outcomes for all farmers, for food security and for nature’s recovery in a just and equitable way.

Dessert and culinary apples play an important role in local economies, with the sector worth a combined £188 million in 2023.

The Government is committed to championing British farming and, in partnership with the sector, we are considering a number of ways to achieve our ambitious, measurable and long-term goals for the sector, including development of new crop varieties that are more resistant to pests such as ermine moths.

We have supported, and will continue to support, apple and pear growers through multiple avenues. This includes establishing the seasonal worker visa route, the Independent Review of Labour Shortages in the Food Supply Chain, a review of automation in horticulture, and working across Government on energy support. Support for the development of new methods and technologies is available through the Farming Innovation Programme and help to improve environment sustainability and productivity can be sought through the Farming Investment Fund. Apple and pear growers can also benefit from our Environmental Land Management schemes.

We have a proud tradition of apple production in this country and our unique climate has given our apples an enviable reputation for quality. Apple orchards are an iconic feature of our landscape.

While commercial decisions ultimately rest with businesses, an innovative, productive and competitive agricultural sector is one of the Government’s key priorities. With its highly responsive and versatile growers, our horticulture sector has a potential to grow, taking advantage of the demand for top-quality, locally grown fresh fruit. We are working with the sector on a forward-thinking approach, for example looking at increased use of innovation to help maximise crop growth and increase productivity. We have also taken a number of steps to support businesses in the horticulture sector. For example, in November 2021, Defra launched the Farming Investment Fund , which provides grants to farmers and horticultural growers in England so that they can invest in the equipment, technology and infrastructure that will help improve their businesses while enhancing the environment.

As agricultural policy is devolved, the information provided applies to England only.

The Government recognises the important role our farmers and growers play in both feeding the country and in contributing to our economic growth, locally and nationally.

We have not received representations from either the apple or other crop growing sectors regarding failed crops as a result of adverse weather conditions. However, Defra and the Devolved Administrations have established mechanisms to monitor and assess the impact of market developments across the UK, including weather and supply chain issues, enabling it to provide forewarning of any atypical market movements.

We will continue this important work paying particular attention to the crop growing sectors in the coming months.

Defra produces annual estimates of horticultural crop production, including on cider apples and perry pears. These estimates include tonnage, value, and imports/exports, and allow the Government to monitor productivity and competitiveness within the industry, including supply and self-sufficiency. The latest available data is for 2019. These are available on gov.uk.

There are a number of reasons why crops may be unharvested, for example weather, pest and disease or a drop in demand. No estimates are made for the tonnage of cider apple crops left unharvested. As a result, no data is available to answer this question.

We have regular contact with stakeholders to understand live issues as they develop. For example, during the first set of national Coronavirus restrictions, we worked closely with the cider industry and the National Farmers’ Union to assess the impact of the pandemic on the sector.

Apple growers can access an unprecedented package of financial support options available, such as the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the Bounce Back Loan Scheme and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.

On 24 September, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced updated terms to the financial support package, including extended loan application deadlines to 30 November, longer loan repayment times and further extensions to the grant scheme for the self-employed.

Leaving the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) will give us the opportunity to design a new system of agricultural support. Over the next few months the Secretary of State will continue to visit the British countryside and working farms to hear industry and the public’s views first hand to continue to inform post-CAP arrangements. This Government has pledged to continue to commit the same cash total in funds for farm support for the duration of this Parliament, providing certainty to farmers.

The Government currently supports horticulture though the LEADER scheme within the Rural Development Programme for England. It expects shortly to open an additional new funding offer for farmers and horticulturalists to invest in a range of innovative equipment to help improve their productivity. This funding will be open to apple growers and could support production for both the domestic and export markets. Also, Defra funds the National Fruit Collection which includes about 3,000 apple varieties. Material from the collection is available to propagators and growers, providing an opportunity to produce heritage varieties for specialist markets and a genetic resource for breeding new varieties. The government also offers financial support to EMR, which runs a breeding programme.

The Government recognises that in order to stimulate innovative practices and increase productivity of sectors like top fruit, a strong research base is needed. Research can develop new innovative practices such as the 2013 agri-tech project looking into extending the availability and flavour-life of UK apples using innovative photonics. As part of the agri-tech strategy, £160 million has been committed to be co-invested with industry to address challenges in the agri-tech sector.

HMRC trade data is unable to identify Royal Gala apples by name. The following table shows the volume of apples exported from the UK to EU member states, at the greatest level of detail available, in the last 5 years for which full data is available:

Table Source: HMRC

HMRC trade data is unable to identify Royal Gala apples by name. The following table shows the volume of apples exported from the UK to EU member states, at the greatest level of detail available, in the last 5 years for which full data is available:

Table Source: HMRC

HMRC trade data is unable to identify Royal Gala apples by name. The following table shows the volume of apples exported from the UK to EU member states, at the greatest level of detail available, in the last 5 years for which full data is available:

Table Source: HMRC