DARTFORD: Strawberry farmers in Britain are celebrating an exceptional harvest this year, thanks to record-breaking spring sunshine and warmth that has produced larger and sweeter berries.
James Miller from WB Chambers Farms noted that extended sunny days paired with cool nights created “ideal” conditions for strawberry growth.
The pleasant weather also promoted better insect pollination, improving the quality and appearance of the strawberries, Miller added.
“Our strawberries are bigger and sweeter this year than in previous years,” said Miller, the commercial director at one of the UK’s largest berry farms.
At a farm located near Dartford in southeast England, the strawberry plants are weighed down by clusters of bright red fruit, all sheltered within insulated polytunnels.
As workers carefully navigated the semi-circular white tunnels, baskets were filled with ripe strawberries, some resembling small fists in size.
The favorable weather has resulted in “super-sized berries with fantastic flavor,” remarked Nick Marston, chairman of British Berry Growers, which represents many soft fruit farms across the UK.
“Having been in the berry industry for three decades, this is the best spring I’ve ever experienced in terms of both weather and crop yield,” Marston told AFP.
‘A Better Situation’
This year marks the warmest spring recorded since 1884 in terms of average temperatures, as announced by the Met Office.
It also ranks as the second-sunniest and driest spring in over a century for England, which is often characterized by its rainy climate.
The southeast part of the country received only 30-50% of its typical spring rainfall, raising concerns of drought among farmers, according to the Met Office.
Climate change driven by human activity is causing longer and more intense droughts, heatwaves, and other severe weather events.
To conserve water, WB Chambers farm in Dartford employs drip irrigation, allowing water to slowly reach the roots of the plants through a controlled system.
“We’ve significantly reduced our water use for strawberry cultivation,” Miller stated. “I believe we’re in a more advantageous position than others.”
According to Marston, British farmers have already sold nearly 21,600 tons of strawberries—5,000 tons more than at the same point last year, when spring was largely overcast.
This surge is partly because warmer weather allowed for an earlier harvest, with large, succulent strawberries making their way to stores in April instead of May.
Demand has also spiked with the arrival of sunny days, as people crave traditional British summer treats like strawberries and cream.
“In the UK, the sun is our best marketer,” Miller noted. “As soon as the sun shines, demand goes up.”
