After concerns in the spring about the lack of insects to pollinate the fruit trees, the harvest has been surprisingly abundant.

A drought through most of the summer and some extreme heat in August affected normal ripening and picking times.

Apples started falling in July and others still clung to the trees into December. The usual picking seasons for different varieties were disrupted; some earlier than expected and others much later.

More extreme climatic conditions and heavy rain in autumn have stressed some trees causing watercore in some apple varieties. This is a physiological disorder where the inside of the apple has a glassy appearance and makes the flesh much sweeter.