Devon's wet summer is boost for cider business

The school summer holidays have been a washout in Devon with bad weather contributing to a reported 20% downturn in tourist numbers but, for one Devon business, all this rain has resulted in a bumper apple harvest.

Barny Butterfield, Chief Cidermaker at award-winning Sandford Orchards comments: “A late cool spring followed by a flaming June was the perfect start to the apple growing season. The wet July filled the water table as the fruit swelled and the late sun at the end of August and early September has put us on track for big sweet juicy apples, and lots of them! We are predicting the best harvest since 2018. In fact, this could potentially be our biggest harvest ever!”

This is a fantastic boost for independent, family-owned Sandford Orchards, which is based in Crediton, Mid Devon in the oldest working cider mill in the UK. The weather patterns that have played havoc with tourists’ plans have boosted both the quality and quantity of apples in their orchards. Barny elaborates: “More apples means more cider, which of course is great news for our business and customers but there is an added bonus for us with this crop. Unlike mass-produced cider, which is mostly made from concentrates, we lovingly make our drinks from raw juice, straight from the orchard. So tastier apples will mean even tastier cider! I can’t wait to try the first batch!”

Sandford Orchards takes a fresh, natural and low impact approach to producing cider. Combining tradition and innovation, Sandford Orchards produces an award-winning range of core session, traditional, fine and fruit ciders.