More growers are planting Horticulture Research International's latest raspberry variety Octavia – a late-ripening, summer fruiting breed which extends the main UK season by 10-15 days.

This allows growers to supply for an extra two or three weeks during August.

Octavia was well supported by Waitrose and Marks & Spencer, which both stocked it last summer and plan to do so again this year.

But with increased plantings, HRI expects that increased volumes of the raspberry will be available in 2005.

HRI raspberry grower Vicky Knight told freshinfo: 'At the moment there are only two UK Octavia growers so there is only a maximum of five hectares of cropping fruit.

'One grower is in Herefordshire and he sold all his fruit through Waitrose who wanted more fruit for this year. The other grower is in Kent and she sold all her fruit through KG Fruits.'