The possibility of a summer drought in the south and east of the country after an April devoid of showers is already causing concern in UK horticultural circles.

Future yields may be lower and crops may wither, but this has not detracted from the whole industry - from farm gate to retail shelf - at least enjoying its seasonal surge in nationalistic pride.

“British is best,” cries the media, announcing the arrival of asparagus and strawberries already on offer in early abundance. Few, however, give information as to why, except to comment - usually putting tomatoes in the same bracket - that the taste is better.

And if this were not enough, there is usually an unnecessary sideways swipe at imports, which fill in the blanks in the calendar for the rest of the year.

However, it would be a mean spirit that would deny our sectors their annual claims to fame. Soft fruit is one of the best examples of a category that is not only booming, but expanding consumer choice. Raspberries and blueberries are now major crops and blackberries appear to be following suit, even if traditional gooseberries and currants have remained a niche offer.

In terms of stone fruit, Victoria plums remain the cornerstone but our cherry industry has continued to rejuvenate. Perhaps one day the pundits will sing the praises of English apricots and even kiwifruit, both in various degrees of development.

And looking ahead to the autumn, English top fruit will hit the shelves and to its credit, it has been able to wave the flag successfully for many years, despite the occasional criticism that many of the almost forgotten traditional varieties are no longer commercially available.

While the response to our fruit industry has excited the public imagination, this blend of nationalism and seasonality now seems to be benefitting brassicas, roots and salads. It is another welcome change from when discussions over the image projected was often referred to as simply boring.

At least, whatever the outcome of the labour spat between Thanet Earth and Unite reported last week, our tomato growers have, through quality and a mix of varieties, squashed the old public perception of factory farms, which damaged the Dutch in the 1970s.

The potato industry, too, now operates on a different plane with varieties to suit every purpose, a far cry from when the Potato Marketing Board set out to show that there was more to the crop than “reds” and “whites”.

Hopefully, one day there will be as much enthusiasm over the first garlic, chillies and far more yet to be discovered, as tastes continue to change.

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