London cidery saves 13 tonnes of apples from rotting

London-based cider maker Hawkes has saved 13 tonnes of apples – equivalent to more than a bus load – from going to waste.

The initiative, which is part of Hawkes’s annual harvest Apple Donor drive, is a campaign that sets out to address the nation’s food waste problem and sees vast amounts of otherwise waste apples turned into cider.

With collection hubs dotted around the UK, the urban cidery was delivered surplus stock from orchards, gardens and fruit bowls, whilst donors from further afield sent apples via post to the Hawkes Taproom.

This year’s donations have been made into nearly 20,000 pints of cider, whilst any leftover apple pomace will be sent to a bio-digester to be turned to green energy.

Over eight tonnes of the apples were donated by charity partner, The Orchard Project, dedicated solely to the creation or restoration of community orchards in cities across the nation.

Hawkes’s general manager Elliot Allison explained: “The idea for the campaign came years ago, when we used to produce ginger beer. Residents who lived in the local area thought we were making cider and would leave crates of unwanted apples at our door. Inspired, we transitioned to cider-making, but wanted to stay engaged and in touch with the community. Taking impromptu apple donations to the extreme, we decided to expand the initiative and reach out further, calling on donors to redirect apples from far and wide.”

Allison added: “We realised, especially during the pandemic, that community action and togetherness is so important. And, although niche, we wanted to connect in a way that plays into our expertise. Every year, more and more people take an interest in that niche, which is heart-warming to see.

According to Allison: “Organising and mobilising the local community to collectively help tackle the national food waste and food shortage issue demonstrates the impact communities can have on a wider scale. Multiple drops in the ocean create a splash, so as long as we’ve made some impact, we’re happy.”

This year’s Apple Donor drive marks a record year of apple donations for Hawkes, having smashed its 12-tonne target in just under seven weeks.

The cidery will also be creating a limited edition cider made purely from London apples collected during the campaign. The cider, which will be named ‘This Is London’, will be available at the Hawkes Taproom for a limited period from next spring.

Anyone who donated apples through September and October will receive a pint of cider for every 3kg donated, and as a thank you to all donors, Hawkes will host an Apple Donors wrap party on 24 November where donors will taste the cider that has been created from their apples.