UK: Strawberries looking good for Wimbledon
There has also been a longer gap between flowering and picking, because of a lack of sunshine. This means the fruit spends longer on the plant, absorbing more nutrients, which in turn has an effect on sweetness.
Laurence Olins, chairman of British Summer Fruits - which represents 90 per cent of growers in the UK - said: “Without a doubt, both anecdotally and scientifically, growers are reporting that the fruit is sweeter than they have ever eaten and I would be the first to agree."
“Everyday that fruit sits on the plant not ready to be picked is another day it is absorbing nutrients from the sun and the soil and that has an effect on the sweetness levels.”
In the first week of the season - which begins in late April and continues until the weather cools in October - strawberries should be around seven degrees Bx. This season, growers have reported higher levels, with some samples above 10 degrees Bx.
Normally, growers would expect a berry to take 60 days from flowering to picking. This year, it has been between 70 and 75 days following one of the coldest springs for more than 50 years.
The average temperature for March, April and May was just 42.8F (6C), according to the Met Office.
The start of summer has not been much better either. Although temperatures reached 79F (26C) in Charnwood in Surrey on Thursday - the hottest day of the year so far - the first week of Wimbledon, is expected to be a wash out, with heavy rain predicted across the UK.
At Wimbledon, strawberries are sold in punnets of 10 strawberries with cream for £2.50. Last year, 112,000 punnets were sold.
British berry sales have more than doubled in 10 years, reaching £779m in 2012, according to British Summer Fruits.
Source: telegraph.co.uk
