A British apple farmer has begun applying a specialist "sun cream" to his fruit trees in an effort to stop the apples from scorching during the UK's record-breaking heatwave. The unusual measure, typically a protective spray applied directly to the fruit, is designed to shield apples from sunburn and heat damage as temperatures climb well above seasonal norms, illustrating how growers are adapting to increasingly extreme summer conditions.

The move comes as Britain endures a spell of exceptional heat, with daytime temperatures reaching into the high twenties Celsius, prompting farmers across the country to take extra precautions to protect crops from damage or loss. Such protective treatments are usually applied to prevent fruit from developing sunscald, where intense direct sunlight effectively "cooks" or blemishes produce while still on the tree, threatening yields and marketable quality.