Climate Change – What will change for the UK Cider Makers

A United Nations (UN) scientific report has stated that climate change is increasing at an unprecedented rate and will soon be irreversible.This is indeed bad news for most, if not all, but it will present opportunities for UK cider makers to adopt more sustainable practices.

As providers of high-quality cider making equipment to producers in the UK and further afield, we thought it would be fitting to shed light on this subject matter. In this article, Vitikit writer, Joe, considers the effects of a 2 to 4°C increase in the UK climate, what this could mean for the UK cider makers and what climate change might mean for the cider industry.

Effects of Climate Change For UK Cider Makers

apple orchard

The future of many UK cider making equipment businesses will depend on how these unavoidable and unpredictable climate changes are approached over the coming years. To be able to come up with an effective plan of action, it is important to understand the effects these changes will have on the cider making industry:

  • Shorter winter periods mean trees will have less of a dormant period
  • Higher summer temperatures will change the natural balance of fruit, which will affect the flavour of what is produced
  • Utility costs for UK cider makers are likely to increase
  • Risks to physical assets are expected to rise. Flooding and droughts are likely to occur more frequently. Low-lying areas such as the Somerset Levels have been identified as at risk from more regular flooding than has previously been experienced.

How UK Cider Makers Can Prepare For The Effects Of Climate Change

bottles of cider

Going forward, it is crucial UK cider makers adopt a range of new interventions, varieties and techniques to be able to withstand the effects of rapid climate change and to continue maintaining a healthy, productive orchard. For many southern areas in the UK. This could be the key to survival. We have put together a few recommendations for UK cider makers:

Choose The Best Apple Variety

It takes around 7 years for an orchard to mature and for cider making to become economical. The orchard then has a 30-40 year life span. With this in mind, it is worth considering the future climate of your orchard and the trees you may wish to plant. Most suppliers of apple trees will advise on the best varieties for your area. It is worth discussing how resilient any varieties proposed are to a climate which has drier summers and milder wetter winters.

Sustainable Practice

Sustainable practices are something long championed by many cider makers, particularly small and medium producers. Reducing emissions and implementing sustainable practices not only reduces the continued impact on the climate but is something consumers are increasingly concerned about when buying products. There are economical gains to be had from both in-demand sustainable products, but also reductions in energy costs in the long run.

Choose Sustainable Cider Making Equipment

pneumatic fruit press

The future of cider making is likely to incorporate machinery which is economical to run and maximises the yield from the crop. Vitikit is well placed to help you plan for the future in an ever developing industry. We supply reliable SRAML cider making equipment which is both economical to run and offers some of the best yields available.

Our available equipment uses modern systems which incorporate the internet of things, a technology that enables the connecting of machinery and monitoring of production in real time. We also sell a selection of machinery targeted at small producers.

East Malling Research has reportedly been working jointly with the Pomology Committee alongside growers on a project to create a more climate resilient New Generation Orchard, and the work is expected to be distributed freely once complete.

Contact Us For Your Cider Making Equipment Needs

If you have any more questions or wish to discuss the topic and what it may mean to your orchards then please do not hesitate to contact us. We regularly write articles such as this to help inform our customers of developments in the industry. If you would like to suggest a topic for future articles then send us an email at info@vitikit.com.

Here at Vitikit we have dedicated cider making experts who are able to offer advice on a variety of machinery and expanding your production.