UK crop has been delayed due to a cooler spring but flavour is expected to be very strong due to slower ripening conditions
Cooler spring temperatures have delayed the start of British strawberry season this year, but the crop is described as exceptionally high quality due to slower ripening.
According to trade body British Berry Growers (BBG), the cooler spring slowed the ripening process, meaning berries remained on the plant for longer and allowing them to develop a richer taste profile.
The result is a crop of large, juicy, and flavourful berries, described as “worth the wait”.
“The start of the British strawberry season is always a highly anticipated moment, and while the cooler spring has meant consumers have had to wait a little longer this year, the quality of this fruit is outstanding,” said BBG chair, Nick Marston.
“Our growers are harvesting berries of significant size, boasting superior quality and good sugar levels. As the phrase goes, ‘good things come to those who wait’,” he said.
The cooler conditions followed dry weather, sunny intervals and chilly overnight temperatures, according to recent analysis from the Met Office.
Many southern counties, where a high number of British berry growers operate, also recorded their sunniest April on record.
Nic Leeds, director at BerryWorld’s Withers Farm, in Herefordshire, said: “The season is slightly later than last year as a result of the cooler weather conditions but this has created an ideal environment for steady, balanced fruit development. The result is that consumers will see sweeter, juicier and in some cases, larger berries.”
British strawberries are now available in major multiple supermarkets, across the UK.
