Tesco reports best plum season for three years
The UK plum industry is bouncing back with the biggest crop in three years, according to Tesco.
The supermarket noted that the British plum sector has been in decline for more than 35 years, but this year’s crop is said to be double last year’s thanks to new production methods, and higher-yielding and bolder-tasting varieties.
Now, one of the UK’s largest plum growers, Kent-based WB Chambers, believes the industry is pulling out of the decline. It says the new varieties as well this year’s perfect growing conditions means it has doubled its production from 150 tonnes in 2024 to 300 tonnes this year.
Tesco fruit category buying manager Simon Reeves said: “We are hearing similar reports from all our growers and main plum supplier that this has been the best harvest for about three years.
“The quality of the British-grown plums arriving at our stores across the UK right now is easily the best we’ve seen for several years – plump, juicy and sweet.”
Plumbing the depths
According to Defra figures, UK plum production hit its peak in 1987 with 28,900 tonnes being produced. It then fell into a sharp decline, with lower yields and therefore lower profitability compared to berries, cherries and apples meaning that many growers switched production
By 2008 it hit its lowest point with a production total of only 2,500t. During this period, the UK’s plum production area fell from 2,400ha in 1985 to just 800ha in 2017.
WB Chambers’ commercial director James Miller said: “The UK used to have one of the most vibrant plum industries in Europe, and our orchards were known around the world for producing the classic Victoria variety.
“As cheaper imports flooded the market and plum production became less profitable, interest in growing the fruit dwindled. But we have now invested in new root stocks as well as modern farming systems such as automatic minimal irrigation and soil moisture analysis.
“And with the new varieties we have been planting over the last few years, such as Top Hit, Top Taste, and Top End we believe we have great-quality plums that not only taste wonderful but also have a better shelf life that will help cut down on wastage.
“And even better for the industry is that these varieties are better suited to the British climate and that will help us extend the UK growing season.”
