Writer Pete Brown follows the cycle of an orchard's year to illuminate the hand-in-hand history of humanity and our most familiar fruit.

From its origins in Kazakhstan, its spread along the old spice roads and into mythology, the apple is now an all-year round supermarket staple. Customer demand means that the fruit industry must keep up-to-date with new trends and scientific discoveries. To see some of the work being done, Pete visits East Malling Research Station in Kent, the UK's biggest and most influential horticultural research station, which has been operating for over a hundred years. Then, keen to tune back into the natural rhythms of an orchard, he heads to Somerset to pick apples at Avalon Orchard, on the slopes of Glastonbury Tor.

Written and read by Pete Brown

Abridged by Laurence Wareing

Produced by Kirsteen Cameron. Show less