After a summer of unprecedented heat, with temperatures hitting a record in the UK of 40.3 Celsius in July, The Garden Cider Company, in Surrey, has reported a record-breaking harvest.
It has taken delivery of more than 100 tonnes of garden apples at its Chiddingfold-based farm, which is almost double that of last year’s harvest.
The apples are provided by residents from across the South East of England, as locals look to make use of their unwanted garden fruit. During a busy summer for the business, more than 200 new members have joined The Garden Cider Company’s membership scheme to receive free cider in return for their unwanted garden apples.
With the intake starting a month earlier than usual this year, more than 20 tonnes were accumulated by the end of August. This was then followed by an even busier September than usual, which saw cider maker regularly receive 10 tonnes of garden apples per day.
“We are very thankful for our fantastic members, who have all contributed to an incredible harvest this summer,” said Will Filby, co-founder of The Garden Cider Company.
“It was a very busy summer for all the team here at Mill House Farm, working through what have been some incredibly hot weeks. The team are currently creating our great range of fruit-flavoured ciders, ready for our members and customers to enjoy over the coming months.”
In what has been an outstanding year for the company, last month it was announced that the surrey-based cider maker would be running the second rollout of its products within Lidl stores across the UK.
There is still time to join The Garden Cider Company membership scheme. Simply stop by the home of the cider producer, at Mill House Farm in Chiddingfold, and the team will be happy to take your details and talk you through the process.
