Apples enjoying revival
14 December 1999
Apples enjoying revival
APPLE orchards are enjoying a resurgence, according to a report by the Financial Times.
It finds that the main cider makers, Bulmers and Matthew Clark, have between them encouraged farmers to plant more than 1841ha (4500 acres) in the last few years.
They buy the saplings for the farmers and sign long-term agreements of up to 30 years to buy the fruit at market prices.
One farmer in Somerset reports he can earn £1040 an acre from fully grown apple trees, against less than £100 from his other remaining business, beef cattle.
The National Farmers Union has been trying to persuade other cider companies to help farmers plant new orchards.
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