La Faîs’sie d’Cidre has been a popular part of the Island’s events calendar for years, acting as a celebration of Jersey’s unique history and culture.
But this year’s cider-making festival is lacking one key ingredient – apples.
Jersey’s warmest ever summer has led to a depleted harvest with the Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society’s annual report calling it “one of the worst on record”.
This year’s La Faîs’sie d’Cidre is due to take place on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October at Hamptonne. But an urgent plea has been issued by Jersey Heritage asking Islanders with apple trees and orchards to bolster supplies for the traditional crushing and pressing to take place.
Nicola Lucas, Jersey Heritage’s community events curator, has organised La Faîs’sie d’Cidre for 12 years and said she has never known there to be such a shortage of fruit available for the event.
“We usually collect about 80 large sacks of fruit from the main orchard that supplies us with cider apples for La Faîs’sie d’Cidre. We’ll be lucky to fill two sacks this year and are also hearing that any apples that have been harvested are not offering much juice.
“Although we often do a public appeal for Islanders with apples trees and orchards to help us to top up supplies, this year is different – we need their help to ensure the event can go ahead as planned.
“There is no question that the festival will take place but we will have to adapt the format if we are unable to significantly increase the number of apples currently available. We will still share the traditional cider making methods of crushing and pressing, but there will be fewer demonstrations and it is unlikely we will have freshly pressed apple juice available for people to sample. Adult festival-goers will, of course, be able to try last year’s cider vintage.”
The south-west of England has seen similar issues, with cider makers warning there could be lower cider production.
On average, a total of 160 sacks of cider-making apples are used at La Faîs’sie d’Cidre. Although the number of apples available this year will impact the cider making, the event will feature live music, entertainers, creative activities, dancing and food.
Niamh Lalor, practice partner at event sponsors Ogier, said: “La Faîs’sie d’Cidre is a much-loved celebration of Jersey’s heritage and community spirit. We’re proud to support an event that keeps these traditions alive for future generations, and we hope Islanders with spare apples will get behind the appeal so that this year’s festival can be enjoyed in all its glory.”
Anyone with spare apples of any variety that can be used to bolster supplies for La Faîs’sie d’Cidre is asked to drop them off at Hamptonne from Monday 12 October onwards. Any one who does so is asked ensure the apples have intact skin (bruised is acceptable) and are bagged.
