This year's forecast for the UK Jazz crop is approximately 9k tonnes, which is similar to last season. 27 licensed growers in the UK produce Jazz apples from mid-October through to early November.
"This will be a normal year for Jazz. Last year was above average, and some orchards are slightly off this year; however, quality looks great. Colour is excellent, and brix is very high this year. Overall, we are happy with the outcome," said Worldwide Fruit's Commercial Director, Hannah McIlfatrick. "This season is a little earlier than the long-term average. The hot summer hasn't really had an effect on sizes or quality. We had a friendly pollination period and then some late rainfall in September, so the size profile looks good on most farms."
© Worldwide Fruit
Jazz is typically a three-pick variety. The third pick is a small volume of clean-up from the trees, and that finishes in early November.
"This year, the colour is very intense, and we had a big pick on the 1st pick, so subsequent picks will be relatively small volumes compared to most years. The European production also looks very good this year. A clean crop with good colouration. Volume per hectare is up on last year. A promising crop overall!"
The Northern Hemisphere Jazz Campaign in the UK consists of a combination of UK, French, and Italian fruit, to ensure that the full breadth of the season is covered, to fulfil the 9-month supply window from late October – July. Ensuring that consistently good quality fruit is delivered throughout the campaign.
British JAZZ™ apple celebrates 20 years of homegrown success with orchard birthday banquet
As harvest season is well underway and orchards burst with colour, some of the UK's leading apple growers took a well-earned pause to raise a glass to 20 remarkable years of growing JAZZ™, celebrating along with brand ambassador and Olympian Jazmin Sawyers, the event marked the start of a year-long celebration honouring the people behind the success of British JAZZ™, – a variety that has transformed the nation's fruit landscape.
What began in 2005 with a planting of 200,000 trees, the variety has since blossomed to become the fifth largest apple variety in the UK.
"It's been a phenomenal 20 years for British JAZZ™, which has delivered a truly unique apple in JAZZ™, with its tangy, sweet, and Always Refreshing flavour. It's a testament to the passion, skill, and foresight of our incredible growers and a catalyst for higher standards, innovation, and continuous improvement across British orchards," reflects McIlfatrick.
© Worldwide Fruit
Good for Consumers
"British JAZZ™ apples have broadened the choice for UK shoppers and extended the domestic apple season, with availability from November through July. Their distinctive tangy-sweet pear-drop flavour, crisp bite, and juiciness have set a new benchmark for British fruit — helping British apples disrupt the market and offer a premium variety."
A consistent standout at the National Fruit Show, JAZZ™ has claimed 'UK's Tastiest Apple' title 8 times, earning a loyal and enthusiastic following among consumers and growers alike.
Good for Growers
Now cultivated by 27 growers across Kent, Norfolk, Essex, Gloucestershire, and Herefordshire, British JAZZ™ has grown from that original planting to over one million trees nationwide.
Its success has reinvigorated orchards, driven investment, and provided a lifeline for growers during challenging economic periods — sparking renewed interest in British apples and paving the way for other exciting new varieties.
Grower Robert Hinge, who hosted the Orchard Birthday Banquet in Sittingbourne, Kent, reflected on the apple's impact:
"In 2004, a hailstorm devastated my crop, and my income was in tatters. Worldwide Fruit gave me a lifeline with the chance to trial new varieties. When I first tasted one, I was blown away — and I knew I had to grow it. Twenty years on, the JAZZ™ effect has completely transformed British orchards and given growers a renewed sense of purpose and pride."
For more information:
Hannah McIlfatrick
Worldwide Fruit
Tel; +44 17757 17005
[email protected]
www.worldwidefruit.co.uk
www.jazzapples.co.uk
