The prediction comes from Bill Ashby of supplier Alconeras which has production at Moguer in Spain and has invested with US partner Driscolls in farms at Zambujeira Do Mar in Portugal.

'The Driscolls varieties we're working on are better than anything out of Chile and South Africa apart from Tulameen, which is also a very good variety,' said Ashby. 'But not only that you have to add into the equation air freight at a time when everyone is talking about food miles and the supermarkets are keen to take supplies from sources that are nearer.

Alconeras is working with five different varieties from Driscolls, which spends $1million a year on its plant breeding programme. This variety portfolio should give availability from Spain and Portugal through the autumn, winter and spring leaving the summer market to local producers in the UK and other European countries. The UK leads the field in year-round raspberry consumption with 17 per cent of the population buying the fruit compared to just two per cent in the Netherlands, but all markets could be developed.

'This is going to be a year of Europe-wide expansion for Alconeras and Driscoll as a joint marketing company is being formed in the Netherlands,' said Ashby. 'The key is not just that we offer seasonality, but we can also supply the right quality.'

Topics