British blueberry growers are welcoming an extra sweet crop this season, with cutting-edge technology helping them meet soaring consumer demand for the berries.
As shoppers increasingly seek out larger, more flavourful fruit, growers are investing in everything from drone technology and precision growing techniques to high-speed optical grading systems, making blueberries one of the UK’s most technologically advanced crops, according to growers.
Drones are now being deployed above British blueberry fields to protect crops from extreme summer heat, while optical grading technology photographs every berry multiple times shortly after it is picked, helping ensure consistently high quality from plant to punnet.
Nick Marston, Chair of British Berry Growers, the industry body representing 95% of British soft fruit growers, said: “Blueberries have quietly become one of Britain’s smartest crops.
“Behind every punnet is an extraordinary amount of innovation, from precision breeding and drone technology to optical grading systems that photograph every berry before it reaches consumers.”
British Berry Growers, is reporting a sharp increase in blueberry sales this year, following a continued upward trajectory for the berries over the last decade.
Nick Marston adds: “We’re seeing real premiumisation in the category, with shoppers wanting bigger fruit and a better taste experience, and growers are rising to that challenge by investing in higher yielding varieties that deliver on flavour as well as volume.
“Demand for British blueberries continues to grow, with sales having risen 73% compared to this time last year (week 27). This means a total year-on-year increase of 27%, with the tonnage of UK-grown blueberries rising by 40% over the last five years.”
At WB Chambers, one of the UK’s leading blueberry growers, every single berry is handpicked, then passed through state-of-the-art optical grading lines in which each individual berry is photographed multiple times in a fraction of a second.
The system uses AI to check for colour, size, shape and quality before the fruit is packed into punnets destined for supermarket shelves.
WB Chambers are also now covering 100% of their blueberry crop in polytunnels, with fleets of drones being used to apply a protective whitewash coating to polytunnels. This process helps to keep temperatures down and protect fruit quality during periods of hot weather, which we have seen over recent weeks.
George Beedell, Head of Business Development at WB Chambers, said: “Technology plays a huge role in helping us grow the very best of British blueberries. Polytunnels allow us to carefully manage the growing environment, protecting the crop from colder weather in spring so we can start the British season earlier, while also extending it later into the year.
“We then use drones to apply protective coatings to the tunnels during periods of hot weather, helping keep temperatures down and maintain fruit quality. Combined with our specialist optical grading systems that inspect every berry before it’s packed, innovations like these help ensure shoppers can enjoy consistently sweet, high-quality British blueberries throughout the season.”
Blueberries need 30 per cent more heat and light than strawberry plants to start producing fruit, so WB Chambers are now covering 100% of their blueberry crop in polytunnels.
They use fleets of drones to apply a protective whitewash coating, helping to keep temperatures down and protect fruit quality during periods of hot weather.
The UK has seen multiple heatwaves this year, with the hot weather following cooler spring temperatures acting as strong growing conditions for British berry growers.
The same growing conditions that have delivered a strong season start for UK strawberries and raspberries – a combination of cool nights and warm days – is being reflected with blueberries too, meaning shoppers can expect a particularly sweet, flavoursome and high quality crop in 2026.
George Beedell adds: “Everything is coming together for a great British blueberry season. We’ve had a slow, steady spring, with cool nights and warmer days through May, which is exactly the kind of weather that builds sugar and flavour in the fruit and we’re expecting excellent size and a lovely quality this year.”