Dead Heat Fries Apples on the Trees

[Guest guest]

Well, this is certainly bizarre! Thanks to Bernie for the link to this

site. Anna

Fruit growers lamenting 'apple stew'

By Martin Cassidy

BBC Northern Ireland rural affairs correspondent

Fruit growers in County Armagh are counting the cost of a heat wave

which has left many apples cooked on the trees.

 

Orchard owners have been left wondering whether the stewed fruit was

the result of a freak weather pattern or points to climate change.

 

The heatwave in the orchards began on 10 July and over the next few

days growers say there was barely a breath of wind to help cool the

fruit.

 

It was a " dead heat " , says Graham Hewitt - who hasn't seen anything

like it in 25 years of producing the famous bramley apple.

 

" At 32 degrees, the apple which was most exposed, just literally

cooked, it was just coddled on the tree, " he said.

 

Walking down the rows of heavily laden trees, Graham points to the

damaged fruit on the south west canopy of each tree which took the

brunt of the piercing rays of sunlight.

 

The damage is all too clear to see with the fragile apple skins burned

brown.

 

It is clear that in many places the fruit melted under the intense heat.

 

Graham plucks one of the apples and breaks the fruit open to reveal

how the cooking process had penetrated right to the core of the apple.

 

" This is a totally new phenomenon in Armagh, this was a totally freak

weekend of weather, but you always have it in the back of your mind is

global warming going to pose more of a problem when it comes to growing

a crop? "

 

The loss of up to 15% of the crop is a particular concern for growers

as they are currently negotiating contracts for the sale of this year's

apple harvest.

 

The Fruit Growers' Association though has been quick to stress that

there will be no shortage of bramleys.

 

Back in the orchards the damaged fruit is already beginning to fall

from the trees and Graham Hewitt says that with 10 to 12 weeks of

growing left, nature will compensate by making the remaining apples

larger.

 

Back in the orchards the damaged fruit is already beginning to fall

from the trees and Graham Hewitt says that with 10 to 12 weeks of

growing left, nature will compensate by making the remaining apples

larger.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4695087.stm

Peace - Anna

" A Nation is not conquered until the hearts of its

women are on the ground.

Then it is done, no matter how brave its warriors or

how strong its weapons. "

Cheyenne