- A warmer and brighter spring will see British raspberries hitting the shelves early this year, according to industry body representing 95% of British berry growers
- British raspberries are also impressing growers and agronomists for their flavour, colour and consistency
For immediate release: British raspberry growers are celebrating an exceptionally strong start to the season, with this summer’s crop delivering larger, sweeter berries weighing up to 8–9g per fruit.
Exceptional growing conditions means British raspberries are also arriving in supermarkets up to two weeks earlier than usual.
British Berry Growers, the industry body representing 95 percent of all berries sold in the UK, says that this year’s warm, dry spring balanced with bursts of rainfall has helped produce a strong crop of vibrant raspberries.
British raspberries are also impressing growers and agronomists for their flavour, colour and size this season, with consumers likely to see much bigger than usual fruit.
Growers are reporting raspberries weighing up to 8–9g each, with excellent consistency across early and mid-season varieties.
Jim Floor, managing director at Hall Hunter, said: “This is shaping up to be one of the best raspberry seasons we’ve had in years. We’re seeing consistently large berries with incredible flavour, and the early start means British shoppers can enjoy them sooner than usual.”
This favourable weather has brought the British raspberry season forward by around 7-10 days, meaning shoppers will begin to see produce hitting shelves earlier than expected.
“The combination of warm days and cool nights has given the berries the ideal conditions to thrive,” added Alix Stewart, an agronomist at Angus Growers, a Scottish cooperative supplying raspberries across the UK.
“This year’s fruit is not only large and eye-catching, it’s packed full of natural sweetness. Early indicators suggest very strong yields too.”
It comes after growers reported a strong strawberry crop, owing to unusually high sunshine levels and exceptional bee pollination activity during March and April.
Nick Marston, chairman of British Berry Growers, said: ”British berry growers work incredibly hard to ensure quality and consistency across their crop, and it is clear the weather has also lent them a helping hand this year.
“With the season starting early and the fruit quality looking outstanding, we’re expecting strong demand for British raspberries throughout the summer.”
British raspberries have become a seasonal staple in recent years, with data showing their popularity comes second only to British strawberries1.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
For interview requests or imagery, please contact britishberrygrowers@sunnysideupcomms.co.uk.
References
1. EY report, The British Berry Industry in Focus, p.9.
About British Berry Growers
British Berry Growers is the industry body for the British berry industry, which is worth over £2 billion to the UK economy. Its members supply over 95 percent of the berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries) in UK supermarkets. British Berry Growers directs world-leading berry research, represents the interests of berry growers to Government and funds Love Fresh Berries, a year-round consumer campaign that celebrates the taste, health and value of British berries.