Strawberries are ‘bigger and sweeter’ this season

The British strawberry season has arrived slightly late but the fruit will be bigger and sweeter than previous years, according to growers.

BritishBerryGrowerssaid thecoolerspringweatherhad resulted in a slower ripening period, with fruit arriving on shopshelvesaroundamonth later than last year's first harvests.

However, the longer growing timehadproduced larger berries than last year, while the recent sunny days and cooler nights had boosted their sugar content, making them sweeter and juicier. Cooler nights allow strawberryplantstorestwell and put their energy gained from the day into producing high natural sugars at night.

From March until midMay, British strawberries are grown in glasshouses before moving to poly-tunnels between May and September, and then returning to glasshouses in October. British strawberry production is expected to hit its peak in around the third and fourth weeks of June.

Over the past 12 months shoppers spent £778million onstrawberries,accordingto analysts Kantar. The slightly later season this year means British strawberries will be in their prime for Wimbledon, Royal Ascot, and Henley Royal Regatta.

Fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries make up the biggest market share (28%)ofallfruitsoldintheUK, boosting the value of the UK berry industry to an all-time high of £1.7billion.

Nick Marston, chairman of British Berry Growers, which represents 95% of berriessuppliedtoUKsupermarkets, said: ‘Our strawberry crop has arrived a little later this year but the good news is that they are worth the wait.’