Shropshire Star

Shropshire's strawberry fields set for good yields

They are one of our favourite fruits and are a fixture at one of the world's most famous tennis tournaments.

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And thanks to the wet and warm winter, this year's crop of strawberries are set to be bigger, sweeter and juicier than last year.

Growers are expecting a bumper crop this year where it is expected that more than 51,000 tonnes of the fruit will be picked at British farms and sent to supermarkets.

This is 5,000 more than last year, with the 10 per cent increase attributed to the wettest winter in 250 years.

The Mediterranean temperatures this spring have also meant home-grown strawberries are on shop shelves three weeks earlier this year.

The news will be welcomed by tennis fans as, slathered in fresh cream, the summer fruit is a staple of Wimbledon fortnight.

With strawberries and cream one of the best-known elements of the SW19 Grand Slam, at least 28 tonnes of strawberries are expected to be eaten over the championship, served with more than 7,000 litres of fresh cream.

Around 8,615 punnets will be consumed every day during the tournament from June 23 until July 6.

Growers in Shropshire hope people will take advantage of the better quality fruit.

Brian Humphreys, owner of Shawbury Fruit Farm, said: "As things stand we will be looking at the crop on about June 7.

"Last year we were quite late opening, it was about June 21. The snow in about March put things back.

"But last year was the best for years. The previous three or four years were very bad as it didn't stop raining.

"The problem with the rain is that it keeps the pickers away and spoils the fruit.

"On our ground we can stand a lot of rain so what we need is rain up until we open in June and then dry the rest of the time.

"I would say strawberries and raspberries are our most popular fruit. The season kicks off with strawberries and the rest of the fruit follow.

"The key to growing strawberries is paying attention to every detail."

Mr Humphreys, 70, of Wellington, has run the fruit farm since 1995.

He added: "We know roughly when we will open this year but we can't make a definite decision until a week before or possibly a bit longer."

Anthony Snell, who runs AJ & CI Snell in Herefordshire with wife Christine, said: "We picked out first strawberries on the last day of April and we've been going for a couple of weeks now and the volume is picking up.

"It's been great weather for bumblebees to do their work so we're optimistic this year.

"The season has come three weeks earlier which is really good. We will produce around 1,000 tonnes and employ 300 seasonal workers."

The British strawberry season was just six weeks long 25 years ago.

However, investment in new varieties and protective covers, means they can now be grown in the UK for more than half the year.

British growers are now growing more strawberries under glass which means that there is more early and late home-grown fruit than ever before, reducing the need for imports.

Last year saw just over 46,000 tonnes supplied to supermarkets by members of the industry body, British Summer Fruits, compared to nearly 51,000 tonnes expected this year.

This year's crop is expected to be sweeter and juicier than normal according to the body.

This is thanks to good levels of sunshine which increased the speed of photosynthesis.

Laurence Olins, chairman of British Summer Fruits, said: "The first British strawberry of the year is the ultimate indicator that summer has arrived.

"This year strawberry fans can indulge in the treat even earlier than usual, and can look forward to an abundant supply right through to the autumn.

"More and more producers are growing strawberries in protected conditions, under glass or tunnels, so that the strawberry plants aren't exposed to the vagaries of the British weather to ensure first rate quality."

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