Sainsbury’s has put its first British cherries of the year on sale three weeks before the official start of the fruit’s season.
The organic cherries, harvested by hand, which are called Sunburst are grown in Herefordshire and will be sold in Sainsbury’s stores across the UK from this weekend, priced at £2.49.
Conditions this year have been described as “ideal” with a cold winter followed by good amounts of rain in growing regions of Herefordshire, Kent and Cambridgeshire.
The Herefordshire Sunburst orchard is located in a south facing, low-lying valley which creates a warm microclimate in which the fruit thrives.
UK organic cherry supplies are limited and once planted, cherries take four years to mature and produce fruit.
Sainsbury’s fruit technologist Theresa Huxley said: “The cold winter and the warm weather in May has provided the perfect conditions for our orchard so our customers can enjoy sweet, delicious British cherries earlier than ever before.”
The organic orchard uses natural predictors to control pests such as caterpillars and aphids.
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