The heatwave that has struck the UK has produced a glut in strawberry, cherry and blueberry harvests. This has led to a wave of discounts in stores and lower prices for British farmers.
Strawberry farmers said they were picking as much as 30% more fruit than usual, and blueberry growers at least 50% more this week as temperatures topped 40C on Tuesday in some parts of England. According to the British Berry Growers association, yields are expected to be double that of the same week last year in the week ahead. Blackberry harvests are expected to be up 80% on the same time last year this week.
English cherry harvests have also been brought forward by about a fortnight by the heat, surprising supermarkets who had ordered in cheaper fruit from Spain, Turkey and elsewhere to cover this week and causing a glut in stores. Extreme hot weather across a large swathe of England on Monday and Tuesday prompted many shoppers to stay away from stores, adding to overstock.
Source: theguardian.com