Berry good year forecast for UK strawberries

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/may/18/strawberries-record-breaking-year-forecast-uk

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Soft fruit growers are predicting a record-breaking year for British strawberries as the season kicks off officially on Monday.

As the berries begin to arrive on the supermarket shelves fresh from UK farms, experts are predicting a £325m record year of strawberry sales in 2015, beating the previous record of £275m in 2014.

An extended British season, new varieties, innovative growing methods – including the use of LED lights – and more acres planted are helping to drive the expected boom this year.

Consumers will also enjoy a sweeter taste as a result of the sunniest winter since records began. Last winter, Britain enjoyed record levels of sunlight totalling 196 hours. The Met Office also reported the warmest day in April for four years, peaking at 25C (77F). With longer periods of natural light, the rate of photosynthesis has increased, which means the plants have produced more sugars, resulting in a sweet and juicy crop.

This year’s British strawberry season has started 10 days later than in 2014 due to the colder nights this April. However, British Summer Fruits, the industry body that represent 98% of growers supplying supermarkets, predicts that 76,000 tonnes of strawberries will be produced this year, the equivalent weight of 6,333 double decker buses and beating last year’s record breaking year of 64,000 tonnes by 19%.

Laurence Olins, chairman of British Summer Fruits, said: “Sales of British strawberries reveal a robust and expanding soft fruit category that is meeting growing consumer demand through modern growing innovations and higher yields. The berry industry as a whole continues to expand and UK strawberry growers are producing increasing volumes of quality strawberries. So consumers can look forward to ample quantities of strawberries on the supermarket shelves this summer.”

British strawberry production has increased by 36% in the past five years, and those grown under glass were available from March this year due to the sunniest winter in 80 years. The climate-controlled glasshouses have allowed growers to extend the season for British strawberries. As a result, British strawberries are now available from March to December, while 25 years ago the season was just six weeks long.