Thanks to the fantastic UK weather recently, shoppers can buy UK strawberries at Tesco earlier than ever this year.
As reported in last week's Journal, S&A Produce Ltd has just picked its first strawberries, and these went on sale at the UK's number one retailer today – three weeks earlier than usual.
Tesco's strawberry buyer David Chamberlain said: 'This three week advance could mean hundreds of thousands of extra pounds for the English strawberry industry. We are a nation of strawberry-lovers who cannot get our hands on the English crop quick enough and this year will be no exception – we are expecting a mad rush.' Climatologists say the UK has been receiving warmer winters for the last five consecutive years. Warmer winters are also contributing to earlier crops of other fruits such as cherries, plums and apples.
The trend will have a significant effect on the strawberry industry boosting the income for home growers and significantly reducing the number of strawberries which would normally be imported from abroad at this time of year.
Chamberlain added: 'Strawberries and cream are no longer a luxury confined to Wimbledon season and high summer. If present trends continue we may even see strawberries grown in time for Christmas.' Tesco has the largest market share of strawberries and sells 39 per cent of total UK crop produced annually, said Chamberlain.
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