Sainsbury’s insists being first to market with English apples and pears this season is not its top priority, despite exceptionally early fruit set.
The retailer’s produce technologist Theresa Huxley told freshinfo: “Weather conditions this spring reached record-breaking high temperatures, especially during the pollination period, and our orchards were buzzing with pollinating insects.
"Fruits were set and conditions ideal for early growth, which means availability of ripe fruit earlier. Our intention is not to be first to market, but rather to offer our customers the tastiest fruit in the market picked when nature intended.”
