This week marks the start of the 2020 Great British apple season, and there are few counties more closely associated with apples than Herefordshire.

That is why the Hereford Times is calling on shoppers, in this one of the toughest seasons for local agriculture for year, to back Herefordshire’s farmers and BUY BRITISH (eating apples and cider)!

It’s been such a challenging season for British apple and pear farmers, with fluctuating weather conditions and the continuing impact of Covid-19, but this year’s apple harvest is expected see a staggering 1.6 billion apples and pears (183,000 tonnes) picked by hand in British orchards, among them Little Peterstow Orchards near Ross-on-Wye, where the Wheelers have successfully picked their first crop of Sunburst.

Better known perhaps for cider apples, Herefordshire has, says Gabe Cook, the 'ciderologist', the biggest apple crop by county, with about 150,000 tonnes of cider apples grown in a normal year.

Ali Capper, of Stocks Farm in Cradley is chief executive of BAPL (British Apples and Pears).

She said: “Britain is the greatest apple nation in the world. We have the perfect combination of the ideal maritime climate, centuries of orchard experience and a commitment to innovation that enables our apple and pear varieties to flourish – delivering delicious healthy, home-grown fruit for everyone to enjoy.

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"With the weather challenges this year, it may not be the biggest harvest we’ve ever had, but it will certainly be one of the best tasting.”

Three main varieties of dessert apples are grown at Stocks Farm, Gala, Braeburn and Red Windsor, "an apple that was discovered in our village," said Ms Capper.

She said their fruit goes to Wye Valley Fruit in Ledbury, a grower cooperative that provides a full storage, grading, packing, distribution and administration facility for the benefit of its members.

Renowned chef Raymond Blanc is equally passionate about British apples and will be working alongside British apple and pear growers to fuel consumer excitement about this year's crop and cement the UK’s position as the greatest apple nation in the world.

His dedication to British apples led him to plant his own orchard of 2,500 trees in the grounds of his two Michelin Star restaurant and hotel, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire.

What’s more, Chef Blanc’s latest book The Lost Orchard, reveals the process of creating this orchard and reconnecting with some incredible British varieties along the way.

“Raymond Blanc is a true titan of Britain’s food scene," said Ms Capper, "and the perfect person to remind us all that a British apple a day not only delivers us great health benefits, but it’s supporting British farmers too.”

Despite the cancellation of this year's annual celebration of apples and pears, Harvestime, there are still plenty of opportunities to enjoy Herefordshire apples: from pick-your-own to juice pressing to apple cake.