Luke and Amelia gave Wasted Apple a fresh start at Fentenfenna Farm in 2024 as complete novices, luckily, with founder Mark guiding us in the background and answering our millions of questions.

It all started when Mark asked a neighbour, who has a small orchard, what he did with all his apples. He replied ‘they are a pain really, we eat some, give some away, but there are far too many’. He couldn’t stand seeing them go to waste, so Mark and his family started making cider in their garage.

The original homemade press was built using plans off the internet, with a 4×4 post to crush the apples, which was effective, if a little slow. Equipment was upgraded in 2014, with a cmmercial mill and a hydro press, which really sped up the process and meant we could use more wasted apples, with 40 tonnes used by 2019.

We started experimenting with lots of different products, from cider and juice, to vinegars, sauces, and jellies. The national movement to link wasted apples with producers launched in 2018, now with over 50 great cider and juice makers signed up.

Then in 2020 we decided to park everything until we knew how to take it forward. Luke and Amelia then decided to go for it in early 2024.

We invested in the super duper kit we have today and moved to Fentenfenna Farm, where we now process over 30 tonnes of waste apples a year.