Tesco expects to extend availability to nearly half the country next week, with nationwide supply anticipated by mid-May. The supermarket projects receiving 300 tonnes of UK-grown fruit next week, an increase of over 100% compared to three weeks ago. According to Tesco strawberry buyer Callum Baker, "Next week marks a significant step forward in the transition to British supply, with volumes of UK strawberries into Tesco set to increase by more than double since the beginning of April." Baker added that based on the extra sunshine and good weather forecast, the company predicts total UK strawberry volume to be around 40% next week.
This early harvest will reduce reliance on imported strawberries from Spain and Morocco. The strawberry variety going into Tesco stores is called Lady Emma, known for its large size and sweet flavour, with 400g punnets costing £2.50. Baker described the start of the outdoor British strawberry season as "a huge feel-good moment in the year as it means summer is just around the corner with many months ahead of outdoor living." He also noted that if the weather stays relatively good, UK-wide availability of British-grown strawberries could be achieved by mid-May.
The start of the outdoor British strawberry season is a huge feel-good moment in the year as it means summer is just around the corner with many months ahead of outdoor living.
Growers are reporting increased yields and sweeter fruit due to favourable conditions. Neil Donaldson, commercial director of growers Hall Hunter, said: "Cool nights and warm sunny days create the perfect conditions for growing sweet, full-flavoured strawberries — and that’s exactly what this weekend’s forecast is bringing." He expects a 30% increase in strawberries from his farms, calling it "a fantastic start to the UK strawberry season." Bartosz Pinkosz, operations director at The Summer Berry Company, noted that the company is transitioning from its year-round glasshouse crop to outdoor strawberries. He explained that the poor weather in March means there won't be a glut of fruit, which is good for quality. "With the unsettled weather in March, the fruit has spent more time on the plant – and the longer the berry is on the plant, the sweeter it gets," Pinkosz said. "That all points to excellent flavour and quality in this year’s strawberries."
Next week marks a significant step forward in the transition to British supply, with volumes of UK strawberries into Tesco set to increase by more than double since the beginning of April.
Based on the extra sunshine we’ve just had and good weather forecast over the next few days we predict our total UK strawberry volume to be around 40% next week.
If the weather stays relatively good from now then we’ll see UK-wide availability of British-grown strawberries by mid-May.
Cool nights and warm sunny days create the perfect conditions for growing sweet, full-flavoured strawberries — and that’s exactly what this weekend’s forecast is bringing.
Thanks to these ideal conditions, we’re expecting a 30% increase in strawberries coming off our farms. It’s a fantastic start to the UK strawberry season, and we’re hopeful these great conditions will continue.
As we start to transition from our year-round glasshouse crop, our first outdoor strawberries of the season are being picked this week, as the British weather continues to improve.
The weather was poor throughout March, which means we’re not expecting a glut of strawberries like we had last year. But that’s actually good news for us all, as it means there won’t be too much fruit all coming at once.
And the brilliant news is we expect the strawberries this year to be particularly sweet.
With the unsettled weather in March, the fruit has spent more time on the plant – and the longer the berry is on the plant, the sweeter it gets. That all points to excellent flavour and quality in this year’s strawberries.