- Last year Brits bought over 12,500 tonnes of British-grown raspberries
- The UK raspberry market is now worth over £364 million year round
- The UK berry market is now worth over £1.6 billion year-round, having doubled
in just a decade
British raspberry season is underway with Brits set to enjoy bigger and sweeter raspberries thanks to a warmer and settled spring.
Growers are predicting strong availability to kick off the season, with 65% more British raspberries set to be filling supermarket shelves compared to the same period last year, when we had poorer weather.
This spring was the fifth warmest on record for the UK, thanks largely to record-breaking overnight temperatures[1], and while Brits enjoyed the balmy weather, so did British raspberries.
The ambient temperatures throughout the month have provided optimal raspberry-growing conditions meaning that the fruit can ripen to perfection, resulting in maximum taste and size.
Nick Marston, Chairman of British Berry Growers, the industry body for the British berry industry said: “Raspberries are such a versatile and delicious British staple and the upcoming season looks great for consumers. The warmer, earlier start to spring was ideal for the young raspberry plants and the recent weather is just right to produce excellent crop.
“The British raspberry industry has seen substantial growth in recent years thanks to the hard work and expertise of British growers. The introduction of substrate growing systems and the development of new varieties are excellent examples of this, and the results of that innovation can now be enjoyed by Brits.”
The leading raspberry varieties now grown in the UK can fruit for up to five months, compared to traditional types that typically produced fruit for just four to six weeks. The extended fruiting period means everyone can now enjoy wonderful British-grown raspberries from the start of June right through to the end of October.
British raspberries are full of nutrients, vitamins and high in antioxidant strength[2] making them a perfect fruity addition to the diet. Not only that, but they can also help support healthy bones, while studies have shown that eating raspberries can also help prevent diabetes[3].
For a range of seasonal raspberry recipes, head to: www.lovefreshberries.co.uk/recipes.
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