Continued warm weather and a degree of humidity has reduced the volume of English soft fruit coming forward.
Earlier in August, when the temperatures rose above 25°C, strawberry plants stopped flowering, so there have been additional gaps appearing in the supply calendar. Fruit size, despite irrigation, was consistently small. Raspberries, which thrive in cooler conditions also felt the heat.
In its latest newsletter Redbridge AFI reported that some improvement may now be on the way, and fruit quality is moving back to being excellent. Everest will be joined by glasshouse Elsanta by the middle of next month.
So far there is sufficient UK fruit to meet demand with little immediate need, although Dutch availability to fill any gaps, where if anything growers have fared worse in the heat, may be curtailed by general price increases.
UK-grown autumn raspberries will continue to be available until mid- October, and are also improving in quality with better colour, and the first pickings from Central Spain will soon be arriving to add weight.
The English blackberry season is now passed its peak, although there should be a steady trickle of good quality fruit for a few more weeks, supported by Dutch and Belgian crops.
Surprisngly, despite the general belief that the Polish blueberry crop would be lighter due to cold weather during flowering, the substantial shortfall does not appear to materialised, although prices continue to strengthen.
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