More than £204 million of British berries were sold through UK supermarkets this year. This represents an overall increase of 6.8 per cent to 53,000 tonnes of fruit, despite 2006 being an extremely challenging year for the industry.
The figures were released on Wednesday by British Summer Fruits (BSF), the industry body which represents UK growers supplying more than 92 per cent of soft fruit sold in UK supermarkets.
Blackberries showed the greatest increase with sales soaring 31 per cent to £4m. The appetite for raspberries remains strong, with sales rising some 26 per cent to £35m. British strawberry sales rose by five per cent to £165m plus.
Commenting on the 2006 season, BSF chairman Laurence Olins said: “Given the weather was against us pretty much all year, the sales figures are encouraging. The wet and cool weather in May, followed by record-breaking high temperatures in June and July, coupled with an extremely wet August and a mild autumn, made for just about the worst growing conditions possible, having a negative impact on production levels.
“It was increasingly hard this season for growers - most of whom are family businesses - to satisfy the ever-increasing consumer demand and maintain positive financial results for their businesses.”
Demand for home-grown berries has grown for the past 12 years, and now outstrips supply for much of the year.
