UK has bumper strawberry crop thanks to weather but may not have enough pickers

Great spring weather has brought on one of the UK’s biggest ever crops of strawberries – at the same time the country is seeing a shortage of fruit pickers during the coronavirus pandemic.

According to Tesco, record levels of sunshine in recent weeks have led to an estimated 20% increase in strawberry production, and 2020 is on track to produce fruit which is sweeter than usual.

The excess crop has enabled the supermarket to keep down the price of British-grown fruit, offering 2.2lb (1kg) boxes from Friday for £3.

Tesco berry buyer Laura Mitchell said: ‘The fantastic UK weather and extra sunshine so far this spring has brought on British strawberries faster than expected, with many growers seeing production 20% higher than normal for this time of year.

‘And it’s resulted in exceptionally good quality and sweet strawberries with sugar levels boosted by the plants enjoying the longer, sunny days.’

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As a result of the increased availability, Tesco has bought an extra 300 tons of British-grown strawberries.

One grower, Phillip Busby, of Busby Partners, in Chilcote, Leicestershire, said: ‘Tesco is helping the growers move excess crop, saving on food waste, and with quality being so good it’s a really great offer.’

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

Paul Avery, sales director at suppliers 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 seeing the most sunshine. The country received an average of 224.5 hours of sunshine during April, comfortably beating the previous record of 211.9 hours set in 2015.

It comes after just over a week ago the environment secretary called to furloughed and unemployed British people to help pick crops due to a shortage of workers.

George Eustice said only a third of workers who would usually come for the season from countries like Romania and Bulgaria are here.

Only small numbers are likely to continue to arrive, because travel remains reduced during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Eustice announced the launch of a new Pick For Britain website on May 19, aiming to ‘marry up job opportunities from growers and employers with those seeking a second job, particularly those that are furloughed’.

At the time of publishing this story, there were still many opportunities on the website, including a number at summer fruits farms.

Eustice added: ‘We believe that those who are furloughed may be getting to the point that they want to lend a hand and play their part. They may be wanting to get out and they may be wanting to supplement their income with an additional job.

‘And if they do feel that way I would urge them to visit that website and to look at the opportunities that are there.’

The news came just before a 14-day quarantine for all arrivals in the UK was announced, but seasonal agricultural workers in edible horticulture are exempt from this as long as they self-isolate alongside other workers at the farm they are working in.

In March farming organisations warned a huge chunk of British produce could go to waste if 90,000 vacant positions were not filled within a few weeks.

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