Morrisons Wisbech is to sell apples that have been grown less than 10 miles away to avoid them travelling hundreds of miles.

It is part of a four-store trial where local growers will deliver apples direct to the store each day.

The trial, the first of its kind, follows research by Morrisons which found that 75 per cent of customers like knowing where their apples have come from with 92 per cent thinking fewer food miles results in a fresher product.

The trial will test whether customers prefer local apples when given the choice in a real supermarket.

A Morrisons spokesman said: “Normally, apples travel hundreds of miles through packing plants and depots to be graded, packed and finally delivered back to customers and there will still be apples on sale from across the UK.

“Deliveries of local apples will be marked in store so customers can find out the apple variety, picking date and which farm the apples are from. If successful, the trial could lead to a change in how Morrisons sources some of its apples.

“John Portass will also supply apples to the Downham Market store as part of the trial which runs until the end of October.”