British-Grown Apricots Hit Shelves As New Climate-Resilient Varieties Launch

A quartet of new apricot varieties bred to endure the UK’s unpredictable climate have officially hit the market, following more than a decade of development.

Image courtesy of Worldwide Fruit

Fruit supplier Worldwide Fruit, in collaboration with breeder Cot International, has introduced four climate-resilient apricots grown on British soil. The varieties – red-skinned Rougeot, orange-skinned Delicot, Playacot and Ladycot – have been specifically developed to cope with extreme weather conditions and frosty winters, aligning with the challenges of UK production.

Since 2020, Worldwide Fruit has overseen the planting of over 5,000 apricot trees across the country. These latest arrivals are described as late-season, self-fertilising varieties that boast high sugar levels and a dynamic flavour profile.

“It’s a busy time of year for our grower base and we are really pleased with our first selection of apricots,” said Hannah McIlfatrick, commercial director at Worldwide Fruit.

“It is a great opportunity to challenge the current markets and bring some disruption to the supermarket shelves with a British offering of outstanding selections that deliver on both quality and flavour.

“This year we have planted more late season Cot International apricot varieties to give even better returns to our UK growers,” she continued.

“With the picking season for apples and pears on the horizon, we really do appreciate the hard work and dedication our UK growers have put into this project to make it a success.”

The launch marks a significant milestone in the development of British stone fruit, bringing growers one step closer to offering a wider variety of home-grown produce to meet shifting climate demands and growing consumer interest in locally produced fruit.