Bumper strawberry crop forecast after record sunshine

THE hot spring weather is likely to result in one of Britain’s biggest ever crops of strawberries, with the fruit tasting sweeter than usual, growers have said.

According to Tesco, record levels of sunshine in recent weeks have led to an estimated 20 per cent increase in strawberry production.

The excess crop means prices will be low, with 2.2lb punnets on sale yesterday for £3.

Tesco buyer Laura Mitchell said: “The fantastic UK weather and extra sunshine so far this spring has brought on British strawberries faster than expected.

“It’s resulted in exceptionally good quality and sweet strawberries with sugar levels boosted by the plants enjoying the longer, sunny days.”

Tesco said it had bought an extra 300 tons of British-grown strawberries.

One grower, Phillip Busby, of Busby Partners, in Chilcote, Leicestershire, said supermarkets were “helping the growers move excess crop, saving on food waste”. He added: “With quality being so good, it’s a really great offer.”

The extra sunshine has contributed to bumper strawberry crops across Britain, including Kent, Essex, Sussex, Hampshire, Staffordshire, Leicestershire, Lancashire, Scotland and Wales.

Paul Avery, sales director at supplier Berryworld UK, said: “The British strawberry crop is in great shape this year and it’s on track to be one of the biggest ever.

“The quality is superb and we’re working hard to bring an iconic piece of summer to the British public.”

Last month was the sunniest April on record for the UK, according to the Met Office, with the Isle of Wight the brightest spot.

The country saw an average of 224.5 hours of sunshine during April, comfortably beating the previous record of 211.9 hours set in 2015.