The True Cost of an Apple

Let's compare apples with apples shall we?

Supermarket apples are everywhere. Cheap, convenient, familiar. But behind every shrink-wrapped pack is a complex web of refrigeration, shipping, and shelf-life compromises.

Most of the apples you buy have been grown to withstand long journeys and long storage—not to taste good. They’ve often travelled thousands of miles, been chilled for months, and are usually one of only two or three varieties chosen for durability, not flavour.

Now consider this instead:

You plant one apple tree in your garden. Just one.

If it’s on a semi-dwarfing rootstock, it might take up about as much room as a washing line. And it will quietly produce fruit for 20–30 years. Let’s break that down.

A single tree = 2,000 apples or more over its lifetime.

Each supermarket apple:

• Often travels 10,000 miles

• Is stored in temperature-controlled warehouses for weeks or months

• Produces around 80–100g of CO₂, mainly from storage and transport

So planting one tree could save:

• Over 160–200kg of carbon emissions

• The equivalent of 20 million food miles avoided (10,000 miles × 2,000 apples)

• Hundreds of pounds in cumulative cost

• Countless plastic punnets or bags

• 2,000 apples × £0.45 = £900 saved

And the flavour? There’s no comparison.

I grow varieties like:

• Rubinette – rich, aromatic, and considered one of the best-tasting apples in the world

• Redlove Jedermann – a striking red-fleshed variety with sweet-sharp balance

• Sunset and Winter Gem – reliable croppers with far more depth than anything in the shops

These aren’t available in supermarkets. Not because they’re difficult to grow—but because they bruise easily or don’t store for months. Perfect for gardeners, completely unsuitable for global logistics.

Planting an apple tree is one of the simplest, smartest, and most satisfying things you can do in your garden. It’s a long-term investment in flavour, nutrition, and environmental common sense.

Next time, I’ll show you how to plan your garden so everything—fruit trees included—ends up in exactly the right spot.