The apple crop has become the latest victim of the weather, with yields expected to be at their lowest in 30 years. Severe frost last spring combined with heavy rainfall and poor growing conditions have damaged this year's crop, according to Teagasc.
The agriculture and food development authority's fruit expert, Mr Harry O'Brien, said he had not experienced a worse growing season and cooking apples were particularly affected. Growers were facing a difficult season, and yields would be bad from the 1,200 acres of orchard servicing Irish supermarkets and shops.
This was confirmed yesterday by one of the country's leading growers, Mr Con Trass, who is chairman of the IFA Apple Growers' Committee.
He said that, while some growers escaped relatively unharmed, others faced losses close to 80 per cent of production. The heavy frosts and poor pollinating conditions of May and June had resulted in a poor apple set, that is, formation of the fruit.
Irish cooking apples, the Bramley, could be particularly scarce this autumn. Eating apple varieties have also fared badly, with much of the crop unsaleable because growers could not spray against scab and mildew.
Mr Trass said the Irish apple industry, which receives no subsidies from the EU, had suffered in recent years because of subsidised imports, and the number of producers had fallen dramatically.
He called on the Minister for Horticulture, Mr Noel Treacy, to take urgent action to ensure the survival of the industry.
All the news from the orchards is not bad. The 10 specialist growers who produce apples for the Irish cider industry have not been as hard hit as others. Mr O'Brien said that, while yields from the 500 acres of specialist cider apples would fall, the harvest would be sufficient.