Farmers report record apple harvest after mild spring

Fruit growers are celebrating a record apple harvest after a mild spring and a warm, dry summer, with yields up by a fifth on last year.

The growers' association said prices for consumers should fall slightly in the coming weeks, and asked supermarkets to stock more local varieties.

Analysts said the decision reflects a broader change in priorities, as the country prepares for an ageing population and a changing climate.

A public consultation earlier this year received more than 12,000 responses, most of them in favour of the proposals.