The Summer Berry Company has produced 50t more strawberries than this time last year
The sunny April has brought the first commercial quantities of this season’s British-grown strawberries in time for Easter.
That’s according to Tesco, which said its supplier The Summer Berry Company has produced nearly 200 tonnes of fruit – about 50t more than the same time last year – thanks to the extra sunshine and recent warm weather.
It means an estimated 500,000 punnets of strawberries will initially hit Tesco stores in East and West Sussex as well as potentially surrounding counties. The 400g punnets will cost £2.50 each.
Tesco berry buyer Callum Baker said: “The arrival in stores of the first spring-grown British strawberries of the year creates a feel-good factor because it signifies the start of the UK fruit season and that summer is on the way.
“But their availability also brings a cheer from shoppers because British-grown strawberries are considered to be the best in the world because of our climate.
“Strawberries taste naturally sweeter when ripened in periods of sunny weather because it boosts their natural sugars. Dry conditions also enhance their flavour as the lack of rain helps make the fruit firmer and more flavourful.”
The strawberry varieties going into Tesco stores are Malling Centenary and Fandango, which the supermarket said have been chosen for their superb eating quality and flavour. They both have a vivid colour and produce large berries that are not too crunchy.
The Summer Berry Company’s commercial director Jack Darnes said: “With all the recent sunshine, the team at The Summer Berry Company can’t help but feel optimistic about the season ahead.
“We’re really excited about the boost in strawberry production to kick off the first big harvests of the British season. The warm weather, combined with our innovative growing methods, means the plants are healthy and producing lush, sweet-tasting fruit.
“Strawberry plants love the English spring and summer climate; not too hot, not too cold with warm days and cool nights. This is why we produce the best strawberries in the world!”
