Sainsbury’s has delighted English cherry growers by lowering its size specification in a bid to help them market a greater proportion of their crop.
The announcement that the spec has been changed from a minimum 24mm diameter to 22mm came this week and will mean that almost a third of the crop of Van will not now be graded out.
“This is a very good move by Sainsbury’s, and shows a keen understanding of the industry,” said Adrian Barlow, English stonefruit sector spokesman. “It is a move growers really appreciate.”
Some 30 per cent of the crop of Van cherries is estimated to fall within the 22-24mm bracket and the step comes just in time for the peak of the cherry season for English producers over the next fortnight.
According to Barlow, the weather has been the main reason for the small size profile. “May was very dry, and cold too because of the northerly winds. This results in smaller sizing for cherries and some varieties are more affected than others. In this case, Van has been most affected.”
Sainsbury's technologist Dr Theresa Huxley told freshinfo; "“Working closely with our growers to maximise crop utilisation is at the heart of our sourcing strategy.”
English growers are now hoping other retailers will follow suit.
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