European protected status a ‘game-changer' for Armagh Bramley apple growers
It means that only Bramley apples grown, picked and packed within the Armagh area can carry that name, similar to how Champagne must come from the Champagne region of France, or Parma ham from Italy's Parma province.
The pride of the Orchard County obtained the status in 2012 and since then has given its growers a 'real edge'.
Armagh traces its relationship with apples back to evidence of them growing close to the historic Navan Fort as far back as 1000 BC.
The real turning point came in 1884 when Henry Joseph Nicholson of Crannagael House returned from Nottingham with 60 Bramley seedlings.
They thrived in the local soil, laying the foundation for what is now more than 4,000 acres of thriving orchards across the region, and the county's nickname.
This legacy is celebrated at Armagh's annual food and cider weekend every September putting the Bramley in the spotlight.
Greg MacNeice, a fifth-generation apple grower and founder of Mac Ivors Cider, said while Bramley apples have always been a local favourite, PGI status boosted demand.
'The orchards have been here at Ardress since 1855 and my father, Sammy, still helps – just like his father did. Apples are part of who we are,' he said.
He explained that Armagh has got the right soil, the right slopes, a mild, damp climate and cooler temperatures that slow things down, adding that helps the apples develop 'that sharp flavour and firm texture people love'.
'It's not just the conditions though – it's the generations of knowledge, care and pride that go into every crop,' he said.
'PGI status has helped protect the heritage of our apple and given us a real edge in the market.
'If it's not grown in Armagh, it's not a true Armagh Bramley. That means consumers are guaranteed something authentic – fruit with a unique taste and texture you can't find anywhere else. It's also boosted demand – both at home and abroad – for a product that is trusted, traceable and rooted in place.
'It's one of only three products in Northern Ireland with PGI status and one of just a few across the island of Ireland. That's something we're incredibly proud of as a region.'
The apples also sparked a craft cider industry in Armagh.
Mr MacNeice said his family grow and press a blend of Armagh Bramley alongside bittersweet cider apples like Michelin, Dabinett and Harry Master's Jersey, as well as dessert apples such as Worcester Pearmain and Golden Delicious.
They have also started using foliar nutrition to feed their trees more precisely, keeping bees safe during blossom season, and are encouraging biodiversity by planting native trees and wildflowers throughout the orchards.
The Armagh Bramley apple continues to shape the landscape and identity of the region, offering visitors a unique lens through which to explore its agricultural heritage.
This year's food and cider weekend, including events from tastings and guided food trails to orchard tours, will take place from September 4 to 7.
A highlight of the weekend is an evening at Crannagael House, where local chefs from 4 Vicars create a menu paired with Mac Ivors cider and accompanied by insights from cider expert Gabe Cook.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
8 hours ago
- Reuters
EU to suspend US tariff countermeasures for 6 months
BRUSSELS, Aug 4 (Reuters) - The European Union will suspend its two packages of countermeasures to U.S. tariffs for six months following a deal with U.S. President Donald Trump, a Commission spokesperson said on Monday. The EU-U.S. agreement leaves many questions open, including tariff rates on spirits, and Trump's executive order last week setting tariffs on most EU goods at 15% did not include carve-outs such as for cars and car parts. EU officials have said they expect more executive orders to follow soon. "The EU continues to work with the U.S. to finalise a Joint Statement, as agreed on 27 July," the spokesperson said in a statement. "With these objectives in mind, the Commission will take the necessary steps to suspend by 6 months the EU's countermeasures against the US, which were due to enter into force on 7 August." The retaliatory tariffs are in two parts: one in response to U.S. steel and aluminium duties, and the other to Trump's baseline and car tariffs.
Fashion United
11 hours ago
- Fashion United
Fashion's digital reckoning: Why the EU's Product Passport mandate will reshape the Industry
As the European Union tightens its grip on environmental regulation, fashion brands across the continent, and beyond, are bracing for a seismic shift. At the heart of the upcoming regulatory wave lies the Digital Product Passport (DPP), a central feature of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which becomes enforceable in 2026. This legislation, which aligns with the EU's broader circular economy and sustainability agenda, will make DPPs mandatory for key sectors including textiles and footwear. These digital passports are designed to store and communicate a product's environmental credentials, from material composition and recycled content to carbon footprint, repairability, and supply chain traceability. Beyond compliance: A new value framework The European Commission, which launched a public consultation on DPP implementation earlier this year, is clear on its ambition: to equip consumers, regulators, and businesses with credible data to support sustainable decision-making, and to reduce environmental harm. However, for fashion brands, the implications stretch far beyond regulatory compliance. According to a June report by Bain & Company and eBay, DPPs could effectively double the lifetime value of fashion products, particularly through resale and aftercare markets. 'DPPs are more than just checking a compliance box,' said Aaron Cheris, partner at Bain & Company. 'They are a foundational shift in how value is created, captured, and sustained over a product's lifetime.' The report suggests that up to 65 percent of the added value could accrue to consumers through improved resale, rental, and repair services, enabled by digital traceability. For example, a garment originally sold for 500 pounds could yield an additional 500 pounds ver its extended lifecycle, says Global Data. Alexis Hoopes, Global VP of Fashion at eBay, reinforced this outlook: 'Digital Product Passports are critical to powering the future of circularity in fashion. Better product data means smarter buying, responsible selling, and more trust across the resale ecosystem.' Cost, complexity, and a fragmented landscape Yet for many industry players, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). the path to compliance is steep. Implementing a DPP system entails not only data digitization and infrastructure investment, but also deep visibility into often opaque supply chains. For artisanal producers in regions like Florence or Kyoto, questions abound: will a handcrafted label suffice, or must every button and thread be digitally documented? Moreover, the absence of harmonised standards remains a major sticking point. Without a unified protocol governing what data a DPP must contain, and who controls it, the risk of fragmentation and confusion looms large. There are also unresolved concerns around data ownership, privacy, and platform governance, particularly in regard to how consumer or product data may be monetised. These uncertainties have led some critics to warn of potential digital greenwashing, where DPPs become a surface-level compliance tool rather than a driver of meaningful environmental progress. Unless rigorously verified and standardised, they argue, DPPs could be co-opted for marketing purposes, undermining their credibility. The end of "business as usual?" Despite these hurdles, the direction of travel is unmistakable. By 2026, fashion products sold in the EU must carry DPPs containing standardised sustainability and traceability data. Items that fail to meet minimum requirements, such as those made from unrecyclable blended fibres or lacking durability, may be barred from the EU market altogether. Restrictions are also expected on the destruction of unsold goods, a practice endemic in fast fashion. Brands will need alternative strategies for inventory management, including resale, repair, or donation, rather than offloading excess stock to developing countries. As such, the ESPR deadline is not merely an administrative hurdle, it is a market access regulation. Brands that are unprepared face not only exclusion from the EU but also potential reputational fallout and financial penalties. From burden to business opportunity For forward-looking companies, however, the regulation offers more than just risk mitigation. The Bain eBay report urges brands to view DPPs as revenue tools, capable of unlocking lifetime value beyond the initial point of sale, strengthening consumer relationships, and opening direct channels to the booming secondhand market. As the resale economy gains scale and consumers grow more discerning, early adopters of DPP infrastructure may find themselves at a competitive advantage. 'The brands investing today in digital infrastructure, consumer engagement, and circular business models,' Bain writes, 'will be tomorrow's leaders in data-driven, sustainable fashion.' In a sector long defined by opacity and overproduction, the Digital Product Passport may just be the key to reshaping fashion's future, from one of disposable speed to enduring value.
Fashion United
11 hours ago
- Fashion United
UK retailers to 'actively diversify' beyond the US due to tariff uncertainty
The US is historically the UK's largest non-European Union retail market, but with the ongoing uncertainty surrounding tariffs imposed by President Trump's administration, 76 percent of UK exporters are now actively looking to diversify beyond the US market. New research from ESW, which delivers international ecommerce solutions, and research consultancy Retail Economics, found that with the US's new baseline 10 percent tariff in 2025 is set to increase average duties on UK non-food exports from 2.3 to 17.2 percent, UK retailers and businesses are having to re-draw global growth playbooks and 'reevaluate long-held assumptions about US viability'. Findings of the research undertaken by Retail Economics in Q2 2025 of 200 businesses across UK non-food retail, focused on exporters, and economic modelling, found that more than half of UK exporters would find trade to the US commercially unviable if tariffs exceed 22 percent, while 77 percent of retailers view global brand-building as 'a strategic imperative'. Two-thirds added that they are willing to sacrifice profit margin for export growth, noting that the biggest barriers to international expansion include logistics costs, operational complexity, and regulatory uncertainty. While 71 percent of small UK retailers admit they were unprepared for US trade shocks, and the 'stark operational gap could hit margins overnight'. Middle East and Asia-Pacific emerge as breakout growth corridors for UK businesses amid tariff volatility Jon Sheard, vice president of Northern Europe at ESW, said in a statement: 'UK retailers are undergoing a seismic shift in their export strategies. Retailers can no longer be overly reliant on a single trade corridor and are pivoting to new regions, including the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, where we are seeing exponential growth.' According to the 'Rethinking Reach: How UK Retailers Are Turning Trade Pressure into Global Advantage' report, exports to the Middle East and North Africa increased by 34 percent between 2021 and 2024, with the UAE now the fastest-growing UK export market outside the EU. Other growth regions include non-EU Western Europe, which is up 15 percent and Asia-Pacific, up 6 percent. The report also adds that UK retailers retain a distinctive advantage, with 40 percent of respondents noting that the 'Made in UK' label delivers a premium perception overseas due to the country's elevated safety and regulatory standards. Richard Lim, chief executive of Retail Economics, added: 'Tariff volatility is reshaping the global retail landscape. Retailers can no longer rely solely on traditional export markets, like the US. Instead, they're evaluating new trade routes and pivoting toward high-growth regions to diversify risk and capture new demand. 'Now is the time for exporters to plan and act. Future success will depend on the ability to adapt, localise, and seize emerging trade opportunities.'
