Climate breakdown could cause British apples to die out, warn experts

Japan’s Fuji and New Zealand gala could replace pippin and russet as rising temperatures threaten homegrown species

Classic British apples may die out and be swapped for varieties from New Zealand and Japan, as climate breakdown means traditional fruits are no longer viable.

Apples such as pippin or the the ancient nonpareil, grown in Britain since the 1500s, are struggling in the changed climate because there are not enough “chilling hours” for the trees to lie dormant in winter and conserve energy for growing fruit.