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“Using our own apples in our produce and in store is a form of micro-protest”

Right now, the apples we use in our Carraig Rua Organic Apple & Buckwheat “made without wheat” bread come from the apple trees in our old orchard here on the farm. It would be cheaper to add apples to the weekly pallet of organic produce we bring from the Netherlands, but this act of using our own apples is a form of micro-protest for us. Much of Ireland’s apple harvest is being left to mulch.

When we moved back to Drumanilra 12 years ago, we inherited a small, overgrown orchard. Some trees were saved, and for a few memorable years, we organized a Meitheal—where neighbors came to help us pick and juice the apples. We bought an apple pulper and loaned it to friends who faced the same dilemma: what to do with a free supply of apples that fruited every year but were often left unused.

The amount of land dedicated to apple orchards in Ireland has declined by 75%

Throughout rural Ireland, and even in urban gardens, old apple trees remain from a time when apples were a vital source of food and income. Neighbors once worked together to grow and harvest them, but today, few have the time to pick, store, juice, or bake with them. Often, only a few kilos are used, and the rest are left to rot. These wasted apples symbolize a deeper issue in our food system.

Although Ireland’s climate is well-suited for apple cultivation, we import over 90% of the apples consumed here. Rising labor and processing costs make it cheaper to import apples than to pick them locally. Over the past 300 years, the amount of land dedicated to apple orchards in Ireland has declined by 75%, with traditional varieties being replaced by more commercially viable ones. Commercial apple orchards are often heavily sprayed with chemicals to prevent crop loss, which poses risks to both human health and wildlife.

What can you do to help?

At Drumanilra Farm, we’re committed to creating space for more apple-related activities. Why not stage your own apple micro-protest? This Autumn, pick some apples and bake with loved ones, visit an apple farm, plant a heritage apple tree (see Irish Seed Savers for help with this one) or simply check labels and buy Irish apples. Small actions like these can make a big difference.

Justina

Justina

Author Justina

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