British cherry blossom is bountiful at AR Neaves', Little Sharsted Farm in Kent, marking the approach of this year's British cherry season. This year, cherry growth is forecast to be slightly ahead of schedule, and if the weather continues to stay sunny and warm, cherries could hit supermarket shelves as early as the end of May. Due to its short run-in comparison with other fresh produce seasons, the British cherry season is extra special and savoured by many for the short time British cherries are available.
Sarah Neaves from AR Neaves grows cherries on 36 hectares in Kent."This year's British cherry blossom really is in its abundance. British cherries are truly exceptional fruits and we'll be immensely proud to provide them to Driscoll's this summer."
All of Neaves' cherries are grown under cover in tunnels. "After a mild winter, spring brought relatively warm weather, and the pollination period was successful with bees working harder than ever before. Any wet weather hasn't impacted the crops as much, especially compared to last year. Due to recent weather conditions, we anticipate the first picking to occur between 7 and 10 days earlier than usual. I'm optimistic for a 7-day advance. It's likely to commence during the first week of June."
British cherry trees are particularly dependent on honeybees because their flowers are relatively small with a relatively low nectar reward. Bees are well-suited to pollinate cherry trees because they are attracted to the bright colours and sweet fragrance of the flowers and are able to manoeuvre their bodies in such a way as to effectively collect and transfer pollen.
Jon Hillary, Driscoll's Cherry Product Manager, comments: "As we prepare for the cherry season, we're preparing to see cherry growth a little earlier than anticipated this season. However, the cherry blossoms will require warmer, stable weather conditions to ensure optimal pollination. While forecasts suggest an early start to the cherry season, it will depend on whether we see a sunnier spring ahead. Nevertheless, we're looking forward to delivering fresh British cherries to consumers."
Cherries sold by Driscoll's to UK retailers are grown by Berry Gardens Growers, who stretch from Kent to Kincardineshire with orchards in Kent, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Norfolk, Staffordshire, and Perthshire all contributing to this year's harvest.
For more information:
Bebe Dragovitch
[email protected]