Poor crop

[ATOB2]

My apple crop was almost inedible this year as the fruit was riddled with brown holes. What insect causes the damage and is there a pesticide-free way of dealing with the problem.

[Ferndale]

It's very likely to be Codling Moth caterpillars. You can buy a Codling Moth Trap from garden centres that you hang in the apple tree. In the trap is a sachet of pheromone (sex attractant) that will bring male codling moths from miles thinking it's a mate. Unfortunately for him he only finds a stick end that prevents him fom mating with the females & thus no eggs or caterpillars are produced.