Sales of locally sourced blueberries in the UK continue to show strong growth, according to one of the country's leading soft fruit and stonefruit suppliers.
Berry Gardens, which supplies all of the UK's major food retailers, says 2011 is proving to be another exceptional season for British-grown blueberries, with the Scottish crop moving into full production over the next two months to fulfil those customers' requirements.
With consumers reportedly buying more locally grown produce, Berry Gardens predicted that its British growers would deliver 350 tonnes of the Northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) to the retail market this season, allowing consumers to purchase fresh picked fruit from June through to October.
Scottish blueberry grower Peter Thomson of Thomas Thomson in Blairgowrie commented: 'This year's berries appear particularly big and have an excellent flavour and this is an advantage when selling to consumers.'
He added: 'Our crop is sought after across the UK and our retail buyers inform me that this season is of exceptional quality and taste.'
Ross Mitchell of Castleton Farm, another supplier based in Laurencekirk and reckoned to be the most northerly commercial blueberry grower in the world, said the earlier-than-expected crop offered the chance of strong supply from September onwards.
'The bulk of our harvest will begin September and we predict very good yields through to the end of October, so providing UK consumers first class fruit into the autumn,' he stated.
Nick Marston, managing director of Berry Gardens, commented' 'We have seen very strong consumer demand for blueberries this season, which has rewarded our growers for their investment in this fruit.
'Our production estimate for this year's crop is 350 tonnes and further investment in planting and maturing plants will see this rise to 1,200 tonnes over the next three years.'
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