Thatchers Cider, a family-run Somerset cider maker with a heritage spanning 122 years, has begun the earliest apple harvest in its history at Myrtle Farm in Sandford. This milestone eclipses the previous record set in 2025, highlighting a noticeable shift in the county’s cider-apple season.
Historical records and family recollections reveal not only an earlier start but also a significantly earlier finish to the harvest. While the 1990s saw picking and pressing continuing into late autumn and even towards Christmas, this year, Thatchers anticipates completing its harvest by mid-November-approximately six weeks sooner than three decades ago.
This evolving seasonal rhythm has been observed across five generations of the Thatcher family, including third-generation cider maker John Thatcher, his son Martin, who now serves as Managing Director, and fifth-generation Eleanor Thatcher.
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Martin reflected, “Harvest has always been one of the most special times of year at Myrtle Farm, when the fruit we’ve spent the year caring for is finally picked and pressed. The recent hot weather has certainly influenced this year’s timing, but it represents only a part of a broader trend. Generations of experience have taught us how our orchards respond to varying conditions, allowing us to future-proof our orchards for those to come.
“While the heat presented challenges-apples are slightly smaller this year-they are nonetheless rich in flavour and sweetness. Ultimately, it is the quality of the fruit, not a calendar date, that guides our harvest decisions.”
Thatchers is actively researching which apple varieties will thrive under future climatic conditions. Myrtle Farm boasts the UK’s largest collection of cider apple varieties, with 458 types cultivated in its Exhibition Orchard. In addition, the company is trialling approximately 100 varieties across 40 acres, assessing how different apples perform considering climate impact, disease resistance, growth patterns, yield, and suitability for cider-making. This ongoing research ensures the preservation of the distinctive flavours essential to their ciders, guiding decisions on orchard management for the future.
Martin added, “When my great-grandfather planted apple trees here, he couldn’t have foreseen the conditions future generations would encounter-particularly with recent heatwaves affecting traditional orchards and older apple varieties. Every generation since has planted with the future in mind. Some of the varieties we are trialling now could become staples for cider makers yet to come. It is our responsibility to apply the knowledge gained over 122 years and current research to give the next generation of orchards the strongest foundation.”
Richard Johnson, Head Cider Maker at Thatchers, explained, “You cannot rely on the calendar to determine harvest time. We monitor the orchards throughout the growing season, tasting and testing the fruit to identify the optimal picking moment. For instance, Katy, traditionally our first apple picked, has a narrow harvesting window. Although this year’s fruit is smaller due to the prolonged heat, its increased sweetness and flavour meet our standards.
“This shift in the harvest timeframe has somewhat reduced yield but without compromising quality. Our approach is to respond to the characteristics of the fruit present and harvest it at its peak.”
Orchard Manager Chris Muntz-Torres emphasised the continuous nature of orchard care: “Harvest might seem like the end of the growing year, but for us, it’s part of an ongoing cycle. Once picking concludes, our attention turns to tree health, nutrient replenishment, and preparing the orchards for the next season. Orchard management is a year-round commitment, and as seasons evolve, so does our understanding of how each orchard responds.”