With strawberries always quick to steal the scene in the European berry market it is important to remember other berries are rising in prominence. Good growing conditions across parts of Europe and the UK have created a buzz through the industry and this season has being greeted with excitement.

Dominiek Keersebilck, fruit and vegetable product manager at VLAM (Flanders' Agricultural Marketing Board), believes that this season is a great one for all berries. He says: “Growing conditions have been good, weather conditions have been optimal with a fine mix of sunshine and showers. For currants the quality looks excellent, the growth of blackberries is increasing and we are expecting good growth for blueberries. In Belgium we are halfway through the raspberry season and the crop is progressing well.”

Lisa Knight, marketing category manager at BerryWorld, shares Keersebilck's delight. “The quality of blueberries this year has been pleasing. The Spanish season, which saw good volume growth and quality, has just ended. The French crop is available now, slightly earlier than last year, and the fruit is looking excellent. Spanish blackberries ended in mid-June and volumes were similar to last year, with the season finishing slightly earlier due to quality issues. The UK blackberry season is just beginning and we anticipate a steady supply of fruit. This is partly due to the fact that a high percentage of the fruit is now covered, which seems to even out the peak in availability we used to see in previous years,” she says.

Those involved in the industry are obviously pleased with the quality but there have been occasional problems. Nick Marston, managing director at KG Fruits, explains: “Dutch blackberries, which began in late May, have been of a high standard. The blueberries we are seeing from Spain and France have been very good. However, there will be reduced levels out of Poland this year due to the weather.”

Knight confirms this forecast. “We anticipate volumes to be down 40 to 50 per cent due to mid-winter frosts. Temperatures as low as - 46°C were recorded, and a whole week where temperatures were around -30°C saw whole branches of some varieties killed. The frost certainly got right into the buds of just about everything. This could lead to a rise in prices,” she says.

Raspberries seem to have found their feet within the market and are proving to be a success. Nick Kelly, direct catering manager at Redbridge AFI, says: “We almost have year-round supply now. We have excellent UK glasshouse grown crop from May to October.”

Keersebilck believes that demand is also rising for berries and that the weather has played a key role. He says: “The weather has been outstanding, we had a beautiful spring with a great deal of sunshine and rain when it was needed. Many more growers have chosen to grow their fruits under plastic covers or glasshouses just to protect crop against hale and rain to eliminate risks.”

The weather is not only important for growing conditions but also for consumers. Knight says: “So far we've had a good summer this year ñ this always helps the sale of soft fruit.”

Pierre Arnaut, commercial director at Veiling Haspengouw, believes the weather has played a crucial role in a plentiful and top quality crop this season, but also issues a warning. “So far we have been very lucky with the weather and the crop has been around a week to 10 days earlier due to the warm conditions. This week it is looking as if temperatures could hit between 30°C to 35°C so we need to keep a close eye on the crops,” he says.

Growth and demand on EU berries and currants within the catering sector is pleasing Kelly. He says: “We have begun to focus more on being closer to customers on traceability and long-term fixed prices. This allows us to help our clients add berries to the menu at the correct moment in production when volumes are available and flavour is good. In the past, without this type of research, the catering sector suffered at the hands of price fluctuations and berries were seen as a dangerous commodity in the catering industry. Our efforts have rectified this.”

Blackcurrants are a consistent high performer in the berry market and looking forward to this season with renewed vigour. Piers Tippett, a partner at David Tippett and Partners, is pleased with how the crop has developed. “Last week we began harvesting the Ben Cairn variety and we're hoping that tonnage will be up 10 per cent on last year. The hot weather means the crop is expected to be approximately five to seven days earlier,” he says.

It's not just the warm summer that has allowed blackcurrants to prosper but also the cold winter. Tippett continues: “We had a satisfactory over wintering period, which saw an increased dormancy spell. For the first time in three years we've had a really cold winter.”

The majority of UK blackcurrants end up at Glaxo SmithKline and Tippett admits it is unlikely to get an increased profile among UK retailers. He says: “The problem with blackcurrants is they are not a sexy fruit compared to strawberries and raspberries.”

Tippett has also been busy trialing new varieties of blackcurrants Ben Avon and Ben Dorian, although these are still in the very early stages in the trials so they won't be cropped this season.

Trialing across the whole berry sector has been taking place. Keersebilck explains: “The research centre for berries in Tongeren, Belgium investigates new cultivars of berries and recent studies have found promising types of raspberries and blackcurrants. Our producers are always very interested in new varieties and techniques.”

Away from blackcurrants, growers are confident that there is interest from retailers in other berry lines. Knight says: “Retailers are increasingly keen to stock the minor berry lines. It is important to offer a range of soft fruit, giving consumers choice. There is now more emphasis placed on range differentiation with premium packs being introduced, allowing consumers to trade up. New marketing initiatives are being planned to increase sales for the future.”

There is still plenty of room though for retailers to educate consumers. Marston believes that with the wide range of soft fruit on the market consumers do not have enough knowledge. He says: The market size for blueberries is relatively small. People are not sure what to do with them. People think you either cook with them or put them in muffins ñ when in fact they are a very tasty fruit. In the UK blueberries are not a traditional crop, supermarket are beginning to hold tasting sessions and issue recipe cards to raise the profile.”

The berry market is producing pleasing yields and Knight is delighted with the performances this season. “Due to excellent weather the yields are good and we are also seeing a higher percentage of Class I fruit. We anticipate a small increase in volume for the minor berry lines compared to last year although prices will be about the same,” she says.

Keersebilck says that in Belgium returns are on a higher level than last year. He says: “Growers are expecting the season to continue this way. Of course it is dependent on weather in other produce areas, but if it's hot then demand increases in the local market.”

The market in Belgium does have a few teething problems following new regulations for crop protection. Gisèle Joris, a member of the marketing team at BFV auction, explains. “Some pest control products are no longer allowed in integrated cultivation. As every new product needs an agreement by the government, no new products can replace them immediately so this is where we are having difficulties,” she says.

Joris maintains there are other successes in the industry at the moment and that the future is promising. She says: “The biggest success is the fact that berry farms are modernising. While growers opt for new growing systems they produce berries with an excellent quality and taste and for a longer period.”

One of the most improved areas is the extended growing season. Eddy Bal berry specialist at the auction in Borgloon is pleased with this. “The extension of the season for berries is one of its greatest successes ñ our average production levels are much higher,” he says.

Many growers are now turning to glasshouses to improve their berry-growing season. “By building glasshouses and plastic tunnels and planting several types of plants, growers have increased the season length. This allows growers to make a better cultivation plan and gives a longer supply period,” says Keersebilck.

Growers have also turned to glasshouses to protect their crop from the elements. Keersebilck continues: “Protected production gives better volumes and better quality with less deviations and blemishes. Furthermore you can have two harvests in one year in a glasshouse. A very early crop and one in the autumn until January.”

With demand still increasing for berries many growers in Belgium are working on new varieties. Keersebilck says: “The new types of berries can be stored for mid or long-term and they stand up well to transport. With the extension of the season and the support of investments and publicity there are high hopes that the long-term sales of berries will continue to rise.”

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