Strawberries Will Be Bigger, Juicier and Sweeter Than Previous Years Following Cool Spring and Recent Warm Weather

May 21, 2023

British strawberry season has finally arrived a month later than last year’s first harvests due to the unsettled Spring weather. A cooler than average April and May means that the nation can expect to enjoy bigger and juicier strawberries than previous years due to a slower ripening period. However, the recent bright sunny days and the cooler nights have led senior agronomists to report that the fruit will be particularly sweet. Cooler nights allow strawberry plants to rest well and put their energy gained from the day into producing high natural sugars at night.

Over the last 12 months shoppers spent £778 million on strawberries, with British strawberry production expected to hit its peak three weeks later than last year, around the third and fourth weeks of June. This means British strawberries will be in their prime around the big events they are synonymous with, including Wimbledon, Royal Ascot, Lord’s Test Match and Henley Royal Regatta.

Developments in growing techniques mean that the UK is now self-sufficient in the nation’s favourite fruit for the whole summer season from May to October.

Fresh berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries) continue to be the most popular fruit item in shoppers’ baskets, enjoying the biggest market share (28%) of all fruit sold in the UK5. This has pushed the value of the British berry industry in year-round retail-sales to an all-time high of £1.7 billion6.

Nick Marston, Chairman of British Berry Growers, the industry body that represents 95 percent of berries supplied to UK supermarkets said: “Our strawberry crop has arrived a little later this year – but the good news is that they are well worth the wait. Cooler spring weather means that strawberries have ripened a little more slowly which allows them to grow particularly large – and the recent bright weather has boosted their sugar content ensuring they’re incredibly sweet tasting too.

“Advanced growing techniques now mean we now produce fresh British strawberries from May right through to October. That’s great news for UK shoppers and it means big business for the UK economy too.”

REFERENCES
Kantar monthly sales data 16.04.23
High level assessment of contribution of English berry businesses to the economy Report by Chavereys, commissioned by British Berry Growers, 05.04.23

31st May 2023