The first Scottish strawberries arrived at Asda this week, welcomed by a bagpipe-led procession into local store Milton on Craigie, in Dundee.
Personally delivering his first consignment of strawberries, Andrew Cranston (far left) grows the berries at his farm in nearby Arbroath, Angus, and delivers them to Asda stores six times a week as part of the retailer’s Local Choice campaign.
Sales of strawberries in Scotland more than double during the Scottish growing season, and Cranston, a fourth generation strawberry grower, said he is right behind Asda’s decision to try and source fruit locally: “Customers really want to support their local farms and growers, as they know that their money is going to remain in the local economy,” he said.
Scotland is one of seven regions around the UK where Asda stores will stock local strawberries.
Some 22 stores in Scotland will receive the berries this season, which stretches from mid-June to mid- September.
Richard Hatherley, Asda’s fruit buyer said: “The concept of local is really impacting upon customers’ buying behaviour and we are noticing an ever-increasing demand for locally-grown produce. It is a fantastic development that actively encourages English growers even further to grow local foods for local consumption.”
According to Asda, the Scottish strawberry industry is now a multi-million pound affair, which gives a tremendous boost to local rural economies, many of which still depend on agriculture. l
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