Thatchers Cider, a family-run cidermaker in Somerset with a heritage spanning 122 years, has commenced the earliest apple harvest in its history. Picking began at Myrtle Farm in Sandford ahead of the harvest date anticipated for 2025, which had itself been a record early harvest for the company.
Historical records and family recollections reveal that not only has the start of the harvest moved earlier, but the end of the cider apple season has shifted as well. In the 1990s, harvesting and pressing often continued into late autumn and towards Christmas, with earlier generations suggesting the season sometimes extended even later. This year, Thatchers expect harvesting to conclude by mid-November, approximately six weeks earlier than thirty years ago.
This changing seasonal rhythm has been observed by multiple generations of the Thatcher family, including third-generation John Thatcher, his son and Managing Director Martin Thatcher, and fifth-generation Eleanor Thatcher.
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Martin commented, “Harvest has always been a special time at Myrtle Farm, marking the moment when the fruit we’ve nurtured all year is finally picked and pressed. The recent hot weather has influenced this year’s timing, but it is part of a much broader trend. Generations of experience have taught us how our orchards respond to different conditions, enabling us to prepare for the future of cider apple growing.”
He added, “Although this year’s apples are smaller due to the heat, they are packed with flavour and sweetness. Ultimately, the fruit itself, rather than the calendar, dictates when we begin harvesting.”
To adapt to these evolving conditions, Thatchers is researching apple varieties best suited to future climates. Myrtle Farm houses the UK’s largest collection of cider apple varieties, featuring 458 types in its Exhibition Orchard. In addition, around 100 varieties are being trialled across 40 acres to evaluate their performance against factors such as climate adaptability, disease resistance, growth, yield, and suitability for cider production. This research ensures that the orchard’s future plantings will continue to deliver the distinctive flavours Thatchers is known for.
Martin reflected, “When my great-grandfather planted these trees, he could not have predicted the conditions future generations would face. The recent heat has been challenging for many farmers with traditional orchards and older apple varieties. Our family has always planned ahead, and among the new varieties we are testing now may well be those relied upon by future cider makers.”
Richard Johnson, Head Cider Maker at Thatchers, explained, “You can’t decide on a harvest date just by looking at the calendar. We monitor and taste the fruit throughout the growing season to determine the perfect moment to pick. This year, the Katy apple, which traditionally opens our harvest, is smaller due to the heat but sweeter, delivering exactly the flavour we desire.”
He added, “While the shorter harvest window has slightly reduced yields, it has not compromised quality. It is about responding to the fruit in front of us and harvesting it at its peak.”
Orchard Manager Chris Muntz-Torres emphasised, “Harvest is not the end but part of a continuous cycle. As soon as picking finishes, our attention turns to tree health, nutrient replacement, and preparing for the next season. Looking after an orchard is a year-round task, and experience in understanding how each orchard reacts to changing seasons is increasingly vital.”