The first British strawberries have gone on sale in Morrisons and Tesco stores across the UK.
Some 25 Morrisons stores in the South yesterday started stocking the fruit, and the first Tesco supplies have hit shelves in 15 Kent stores today - a full 10 days earlier than last year.
Tesco will roll out supplies to stores across the rest of the country next week.
Tesco strawberry buyer Ben Reed said: “Not only are we enjoying the first warm weather of the year this week but we have also now got the first British strawberries, which means that summer is well and truly on the way.
“The arrival of the first home-grown strawberries is extremely significant - not only does it herald the start of British Summer Time but it is also the start of the UK growing season.
“Many shoppers think of the first home-grown strawberries as being bitter and hard, but the ones we have got our hands on are delicious.”
The strawberries were grown by S&A Produce in Kent, near Faversham and Whitstable.
Tesco sells around 27 per cent of the total British crop produced each year.
Tesco fruit technical manager Ciara Grace said: “Our main glasshouse supplier has this year used a different variety of strawberry, called Sonata, which bears fruit earlier than an Elsanta, the commonly used early season type.
“He also planted them in December rather than January in order to bear fruit earlier.”
Tesco’s British strawberries will initially sell for £3.99 a punnet.
Meanwhile, Waitrose is putting strawberries into store tomorrow.
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