Strawberry farmers are breathing a sigh of relief this month because their polytunnels have protected the British strawberry crop from the unusually heavy rain during the critical fruiting time.
British soft-fruit growers have been producing increasingly successful crops since the introduction of polytunnels 13 years ago, partly because they prevent rain damage to the developing fruit.
In an average year, 40 per cent of the crop will be damaged by rainfall, and this year most of the early crop would have been ruined.
Anthony Snell, a member of the NFU Horticultural Board, said: “Polytunnels have allowed British fruit growers to make huge advances, both in saving the ripening fruit from rain damage and in extending the season which now lasts from May until October. The season used to last only six weeks but now it can last up to six months.
“British growers are now successfully competing with foreign imports from Egypt and Spain. Extending the growing season has a big impact on food miles that used to be attached to strawberries before June and after July,” he added.
“The enclosed nature of polytunnels means that growers can reduce their use of pesticide by 50 per cent and the enclosed environment means they can also release natural enemies like lacewings to eat aphid and other pests.”
The British soft fruit industry is worth £185 million every year, and that can be put down to the improved conditions that polytunnels offer the plants, according to Snell.
But there has been criticism of polytunnels because of their visual impact on the landscape. Some growers are now fitting recently developed plastics which reduce glare and shimmer by up to 70 per cent.
“The advantages of ploytunnels far outweigh the negative aspects of this method of fruit production for everyne, but it is important that growers use their polytunnels sensitively,” said Snell.
“That is why we urge our members to work to the code of conduct developed by the NFU and British Summer Fruits, the organisation responsible for promoting soft fruit.”
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