This year has been a record one for the UK soft-fruit industry with latest figures from National Summer Fruits showing a strawberry sales increase of 30 per cent and raspberry sales up by nearly 70 per cent.
The organisation represents UK producers who between them supply more than 90 per cent of all UK-grown fruit supplied to major multiples.
During 2003, 30,719 tonnes of strawberries and 2,322t of raspberries were sold with a combined value of over £116 million.
Various factors came together to ensure this season's success, according to Laurence Olins, chairman of the organisation: "The weather was very kind, especially in the early part of the year. Early spring frosts on the Continent also proved beneficial to the British berry industry as it meant less competition for British raspberries and strawberries on the supermarket shelves."
Technological developments and increased production of glasshouse grown fruits have not only extended the season from March through to December but have also ensured a consistent, high quality supply of berries available to the supermarkets.
Despite the substantial increase in sales, demand for British strawberries and raspberries still outstrips supply. This is largely due to increased consumer awareness of the health and nutritional benefits the fruits provide, the association believes.
The outlook for 2004 is equally positive, with strawberry and raspberry growth expected to rise by similar levels. As the British berry industry prospers, UK growers have had the confidence to plant more acreage.
"As an industry, we're now much better organized," said Olins. "We've been fine-tuning the relationships between growers, marketers and customers. Production techniques are increasingly sophisticated, resulting in certainty of crops due to increased protection as well as an extended season. The crop is planned well in advance to suit customer's needs and we're reaping the benefits."
For more on National Summer Fruits see this week's Journal out on Friday.
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