Somerset’s renowned cider industry is facing challenges this summer due to ongoing drought conditions and recurrent heatwaves. Toby Fry, director of Harry’s Cider Company near Langport, estimates that apple yields may be down by 20 to 30 per cent compared to earlier forecasts at the start of the season.
Speaking to Somerset Live, the 36-year-old farmer explained, “The overall yield is going to be down because we need rain for things to grow.” Despite the reduced quantity, cider makers are prioritising quality over volume. “As cider producers, we’re focusing on making every bottle as good as possible rather than making as many as possible,” he said. “But if we were solely growers, the situation would be very concerning.”
Cider production is deeply embedded in Somerset’s local economy and cultural heritage. The county is home to numerous orchards, from Sheppy’s Cider in the south to the famous Thatchers in the north. Each year, various cider festivals celebrate this quintessentially Somerset craft.
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Economically, the industry is significant; Thatchers estimates that cider production contributes around £2.7 billion to the UK economy and provides employment for more than 65,000 people annually. While Thatchers has yet to comment on this year’s weather impact, in 2025 the company celebrated a hot summer that resulted in a bumper apple harvest and an earlier than usual picking season.
Traditionally, Somerset offered ideal conditions for cider apple cultivation, with a balance of warmth and rainfall helping orchards thrive. However, the ongoing drought, now officially declared in Somerset and across much of the West Country and England, threatens this balance. Without adequate rainfall, orchards are bearing less fruit, and extreme heat puts apple trees under stress. This summer marks the UK’s fifth heatwave, making it one of the hottest on record.
Irrigation is not a feasible solution for most cider farmers. “You would have to use tens of thousands of litres of water,” Toby explained, noting that many farms, including his own, lack the necessary equipment.
Toby has called on the government to provide greater support, specifically suggesting tax relief to aid the industry: “You can’t do anything about the climate, can you? But we can always ask for less tax on cider. The government needs to realise cider is a heritage industry, with both domestic and overseas markets.”
Across the country, other fruit growers are also feeling the effects of climate change. In Kent, farmer Clive Baxter of Amsbury Farm, which produces 2,000 tonnes of apples annually, has had to apply clay coatings to his Bramley apples for six years to prevent them from over-ripening in the heat.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) acknowledged in a recent statement that “this summer has been hard for farmers. Dry conditions are placing pressure on farm businesses. Grass growth has reduced, forage is less available, crops are being affected, and water supplies are under pressure. Farmers are also facing higher fertiliser and red diesel costs due to the conflict in the Middle East.”
DEFRA stated it is “looking at how we can support farmers through this prolonged dry weather and hope to be able to say more on this soon, alongside how we’re building greater long-term resilience to climate shocks.”
There is a glimmer of optimism amid concerns: while apple yields decline, hardy pear trees on Toby’s farm remain robust. Pear trees, which grow in sand-based soils that retain moisture better than the clay soils favoured by apple trees, are faring better in the dry conditions.
For now, an air of uncertainty lingers over Somerset’s prized cider industry, as its future will depend on how it adapts to climate challenges and evolving environmental conditions in the years ahead.