‘New-fangled’ desserts like Angel Delight are to blame for the decline of the English apple, claims Environment Secretary
Official figures show that Britain produced 416,200 tonnes of apples 25 years ago but by 2012 this had more than halved to 202,900. Environment Secretary Truss said the apple had ‘always been a part of Britain’ but with two-thirds now imported she warned ‘the orchard is a rare sight’. The EU provided grants in the 1970s and 1980s encouraging farmers to rip out orchards; consumers prefer products such as Angel Delight or Instant Whip rather than apple crumble; and shoppers are tempted by imports of the heavily marketed Pink Lady from Australia or Golden Delicious from France; which have all combined to reduce home grown apples. Truss is hoping the popularity of the Great British Bake-Off, with people taking more interest in the food they cook, and eat, will encourage British apple consumption.