British Berry Growers has highlighted significant new cost pressures facing UK soft fruit producers, following further global market disruption since early March.
Initial analysis, based on grower data compiled by Andersons Farm Business Consultants, shows substantial increases across key input categories critical to berry production.
Since 1 March 2026, indicative cost increases include:
- Fertiliser and crop protection: up 30-40% (median 35%)
- Packaging: up 10-25% (median 17.5%)
- Transport: up 15-25% (median 20%)
These increases affect all major UK soft fruit crops, including strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries, across a wide range of production systems.
While the precise impact varies by crop and business, the direction of travel is clear: growers are facing a rapid and unanticipated rise in core production costs at the start of the 2026 season.
For growers producing berries in heated environments, the situation is further compounded by rising energy costs.
Andersons analysis indicates that since early March:
- Electricity costs have risen by 10-40%
- Natural gas costs have increased by around 60%
These increases are particularly significant for glasshouse and other heated production systems, where energy forms a substantial proportion of overall costs. However, they also have wider implications, as higher energy prices feed into cooling, storage and packing operations across the entire sector.
Reflecting on this sector analysis, Nick Marston, Chairman of British Berry Growers, said:
“British berry growers are once again dealing with significant cost increases driven by global events outside our control.
“What stands out here is the scale and the speed; we’ve seen sharp rises across fertiliser, packaging and transport in a matter of weeks, just as the UK season gets underway.
“For those producing in glasshouses, the increases in electricity and particularly gas prices add a further layer of cost at an already high base.
“These are core inputs. When they move at this level, it has a direct impact on the cost of producing British berries.
“As we move into the peak season, it’s important that these pressures are recognised across the supply chain.”