The strawberry harvest at Fife Fruits got underway in May, a little earlier than expected, and it is now in full production.
"We didn't push the crop this year, so we expected to start slightly later, but the great weather through April into May really brought the strawberries on," said Robert Simpson at Fife Fruits. "We have a full crop and it is looking very good, with big fruit and great taste."
The English season also got off to an early start this year, so the timing of the Scottish season is working well, as the peaks in production are complementing each other.
"In the south, they have been having temperatures of 30 degrees, which is too hot. Here we have had the sunshine without the extreme heat. This has been befitting us as the English production dips, when we have a full production. This is a win for everyone. Demand is also very good; we are selling everything we can pick at the moment."
© Fife Fruits
Water supply
The warm, dry weather does not come without its downside, though. Back in April, there were concerns about drought. The recent rain has been very welcome and has benefited the crops, but SEPA has warned that the low rainfall over the winter months has left reservoirs and rivers at low levels, and more rain is needed to restore them.
Raspberries
The raspberry season is just kicking off at Fife Fruits, which is also earlier than expected. "We are now starting to build volumes, and the fruit is looking good. The danger is that we could get a flush of fruit now and see an early end to the season. At the moment, everything is very positive, and with Wimbledon starting, demand should remain high through July. August can be a more difficult month, though."
For more information:
Robert Simpson
Fife Fruits
Tel.: +44 1334 655024
[email protected]
www.fifefruits.co.uk
