The dry sunny weather continues, making this growing season very different to the mostly dull wet conditions experienced in 2024. Vine growers have had perfect flowering weather and their vineyards, if established, are less likely to suffer from the lack of rain than fruit growers without adequate irrigation. The weather has been kinder to consumers than to strawberry growers, with heavy discounts to move crops maturing faster and earlier than expected. At least there is good news from recent research which showed that nine out of ten consumers want to see more food produced in the UK, while only a third say they trust food from the USA and India. At a time where trade deals top political agendas, it’s good to see that almost 90% of Brits said they trusted British farmers, followed by 88% who said they trust assurance schemes.
Orchards and Cider is one of the defining features of the Royal Bath and West Show, combining as it does Europe’s largest and most prestigious cider competition, with apple-related attractions for all the family, and trade stands offering everything that the amateur cidermaker needs. Across the world only one other cider competition can claim to be bigger and that is in the USA. There is some evidence of a revival in artisan cider production and entries for the British Cider Championships were at their highest since the Covid-19 epidemic, numbering 536 and from all parts of the UK, an increase of 19% on last year. Taken with good grace by West Country entrants was the news that the Supreme Champion Cider award went to a vintage sparkling cider from Kent made by Biddenden Vineyards. Martin Thatcher described it as having “that ‘wow factor’ that made it stand out from the very first sip”.
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