British blueberry production set to soar in 2012
The surge in production this year has come about as the blueberry bushes planted in the last five years reach full production.
Britain’s berry growers have been increasing blueberry cultivation as demand grew amongst consumers and yield has increased 22% in the last four years.
Blueberries are now grown as far north as North-East Scotland on the same latitude as the Gulf of Alaska. It is the lovely temperate climate created in Scotland by the Gulf Stream that allows this miracle of nature.
The British season starts in the south of England in June and extends until October in North East Scotland; making it, at six months of fresh picked fruit, the longest season in the world – beating Chile which has the second longest season of four months.
Laurence Olins, Chairman of British Summer Fruits, the industry body said "British blueberries are one of the success stories of British horticulture and is the fastest growing soft-fruit sector."
This year’s weather has created the perfect growing conditions for blueberries which benefit from cooler and slower ripening conditions producing a more intense flavour and juicier fruit.
In August 2011, berries topped fruit sales for the first time, beating apples and bananas. Berries now account for 18.4% of all fruit sales in British supermarkets; year on year sales increased 13.3% in the berry category. The UK berry market is worth £783m.
Blueberries can be enjoyed straight from the punnet and have been measured to have more antioxidant activity than 8 other fruits including apples and oranges and even green vegetables like beans, broccoli, rocket and spinach.
British growers only grow the largest and tastiest blueberry varieties, such as Ozark Blue, Bluecrop, Duke, Chandler, Liberty, Draper and Aurora so customers can be sure they will get really great blueberries when they buy British.
For more information:
Katherine Clarke
T. +44(0)20 7439 2780
Email: [email protected]
www.sputnikcomms.co.uk