Latest news with #WBChambersFarms
Qatar Tribune
14-06-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Record sun fuels sweet UK strawberries
Agencies British strawberry farmers say this year's record-breaking spring sunshine and warm days have yielded the cream of the crop, with a bigger and sweeter harvest than usual. Long periods of sun and cool nights provided 'perfect' conditions for the strawberry harvest, according to James Miller from WB Chambers Farms. The dry and pleasant weather also boosted insect pollination, which further improves the quality and shape of the berries, Miller explained. 'They're bigger and sweeter this year than we've seen in previous years,' said Miller, the commercial director for one of the country's biggest berry producers. At one farm near Dartford in Kent, southeast England, rows of strawberry plants drooped with the weight of the gleaming red fruit housed in insulating polytunnels. As farmhands made their way meticulously down the semi-circular white tunnels, punnets were filled with ripe strawberries—some the size of small fists. The weather has resulted in 'super berry size and super flavour,' said Nick Marston, chairman of British Berry Growers, which represents most of the UK's soft fruit farms. 'I've been in the berry industry for 30 years and this is one of the best springs I've ever seen, in terms of both the weather and also the crop,' Marston told AFP.
Kuwait Times
13-06-2025
- Climate
- Kuwait Times
Britain sunniest spring yields unusually sweet strawberries
KENT: A seasonal worker picks strawberries at Hugh Lowe Farms, near Maidstone, Kent. British strawberry farmers say this 2025's record-breaking spring sunshine and warm days has yielded the cream of the crop, with the harvested fruit bigger and sweeter than usual. - AFP DARTFORD: British strawberry farmers say this year's record-breaking spring sunshine and warm days have yielded the cream of the crop, with a bigger and sweeter harvest than usual. Long periods of sun and cool nights provided 'perfect' conditions for the strawberry harvest, according to James Miller from WB Chambers Farms. The dry and pleasant weather also boosted insect pollination, which further improves the quality and shape of the berries, Miller explained. 'They're bigger and sweeter this year than we've seen in previous years,' said Miller, the commercial director for one of the country's biggest berry producers. At one farm near Dartford in Kent, southeast England, rows of strawberry plants drooped with the weight of the gleaming red fruit housed in insulating polytunnels. As farmhands made their way meticulously down the semi-circular white tunnels, punnets were filled with ripe strawberries—some the size of small fists. The weather has resulted in 'super berry size and super flavour,' said Nick Marston, chairman of British Berry Growers, which represents most of the UK's soft fruit farms. 'I've been in the berry industry for 30 years and this is one of the best springs I've ever seen, in terms of both the weather and also the crop,' Marston told AFP. 'Better place' This year Britain experienced the warmest spring in terms of mean temperatures since records began in 1884, the Met Office announced this week. It was also the second-sunniest and the driest spring in over a century for England, known for its damp climate. Southeast England received only 30-50 percent of its average spring rainfall, according to the Met Office, raising fears of drought for many farmers. Human-induced climate change is driving longer-lasting, more intense and more frequent droughts, heatwaves and other extreme weather events. To conserve water, the WB Chambers farm in Dartford uses drip irrigation—which involves water slowly trickling to the roots of the plant through a controlled pipe. 'We've reduced our water usage for growing strawberries quite significantly,' Miller told AFP. 'So I hope we're in a better place than others.' According to Marston, British producers have already sold nearly 21,600 tons of strawberries - 5,000 tons more than by the same time last year, when the country experienced an overcast spring. This is in part due to warmer conditions yielding an earlier crop than usual, with large and juicy strawberries hitting the shelves in April, rather than May. But it is also due to a rise in demand when the sun comes out, said Miller, with consumers hankering for British summer classics like strawberries and cream. 'The sun is our biggest salesman in the UK,' said Miller. 'When the sun picks up, then the demand picks up.'- AFP
Khaleej Times
11-06-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Britain's sunny spring brings a bumper strawberry crop
Strawberry season has arrived early to Britain this year thanks to a "near perfect" spring blend of warm days, cool nights and high sunshine levels, growers said. The favourable conditions have meant sweeter, larger and more shapely strawberries arriving earlier on supermarket shelves this year and lower prices for shoppers. James Miller, the commercial director of Maidstone, southeast England-based WB Chambers Farms, said regular daytime temperatures in May of 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit), dropping to 9 C overnight, along with high light levels were the key to the exceptional early season crop. "(That's) really helped the plants to develop and to produce the sweet and large berries that we've got at the moment," he told Reuters. "The warm and sunny weather has been welcome for strawberry growing this year." Late last month, Tesco, Britain's biggest supermarket group, said it had taken on extra stock from UK strawberry growers and had cut the price shoppers pay for 400g punnets from 2.50 pounds ($3.38) to 1.50 pounds. It expects to sell about 25% more strawberries this year than last. Miller said growing conditions this spring were very different to last year when Britain experienced a much colder and wetter start to the fruit growing season. He said all farmers understood that they have to adapt to climate change, and be prepared for changing circumstances. "We have to invest in the technology. That means that we understand the weather impact on the crops and how we change our irrigation or feeding routines for the future," he said. Miller also welcomed the news that the government is in the process of resetting trade ties with the European Union, which should make it easier to export. The sooner a deal comes the better. "If it was this summer, then this season, that would be fantastic," he said.
Borneo Post
11-06-2025
- Climate
- Borneo Post
UK's sunniest spring yields unusually sweet strawberries
Long periods of sun and cool nights provided 'perfect' conditions for the strawberry harvest, according to James Miller from WB Chambers Farms. — AFP photo DARTFORD (June 11): British strawberry farmers say this year's record-breaking spring sunshine and warm days have yielded the cream of the crop, with a bigger and sweeter harvest than usual. Long periods of sun and cool nights provided 'perfect' conditions for the strawberry harvest, according to James Miller from WB Chambers Farms. The dry and pleasant weather also boosted insect pollination, which further improves the quality and shape of the berries, Miller explained. 'They're bigger and sweeter this year than we've seen in previous years,' said Miller, the commercial director for one of the country's biggest berry producers. At one farm near Dartford in Kent, southeast England, rows of strawberry plants drooped with the weight of the gleaming red fruit housed in insulating polytunnels. As farmhands made their way meticulously down the semi-circular white tunnels, punnets were filled with ripe strawberries — some the size of small fists. The weather has resulted in 'super berry size and super flavour,' said Nick Marston, chairman of British Berry Growers, which represents most of the UK's soft fruit farms. 'I've been in the berry industry for 30 years and this is one of the best springs I've ever seen, in terms of both the weather and also the crop,' Marston told AFP. – 'Better place' – This year Britain experienced the warmest spring in terms of mean temperatures since records began in 1884, the Met Office announced this week. It was also the second-sunniest and the driest spring in over a century for England, known for its damp climate. Southeast England received only 30-50 per cent of its average spring rainfall, according to the Met Office, raising fears of drought for many farmers. Human-induced climate change is driving longer-lasting, more intense and more frequent droughts, heatwaves and other extreme weather events. To conserve water, the WB Chambers farm in Dartford uses drip irrigation — which involves water slowly trickling to the roots of the plant through a controlled pipe. 'We've reduced our water usage for growing strawberries quite significantly,' Miller told AFP. 'So I hope we're in a better place than others.' According to Marston, British producers have already sold nearly 21,600 tonnes of strawberries — 5,000 tonnes more than by the same time last year, when the country experienced an overcast spring. This is in part due to warmer conditions yielding an earlier crop than usual, with large and juicy strawberries hitting the shelves in April, rather than May. But it is also due to a rise in demand when the sun comes out, said Miller, with consumers hankering for British summer classics like strawberries and cream. 'The sun is our biggest salesman in the UK,' said Miller. 'When the sun picks up, then the demand picks up.' — AFP
The Independent
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Strawberries bucking the trend to get bigger and cheaper in 2025 – here's why
Strawberry season in the UK has arrived ahead of schedule this year, with growers attributing the early bounty to a combination of warm days, cool nights, and ample sunshine. The favourable weather conditions have resulted in strawberries that are not only sweeter and larger but also more aesthetically pleasing, leading to lower prices for consumers. James Miller, commercial director at WB Chambers Farms in Maidstone, noted that consistent daytime temperatures of 20 degrees Celsius in May, coupled with overnight drops to 9 degrees and high light levels, have been instrumental in producing the exceptional early-season crop. Mr Miller said that these conditions have "really helped the plants to develop and to produce the sweet and large berries that we've got at the moment," adding that "the warm and sunny weather has been welcome for strawberry growing this year." Tesco reported it had increased its stock from UK strawberry growers and reduced the price of 400g punnets from £2.50 to £1.50. The supermarket anticipates a 25 per cent increase in strawberry sales compared to last year. This bucks the common 'shrinkflation' trend many products have been subject to in recent years, where shoppers are paying higher prices for lower quantities. It was recently revealed that the average price of chocolate in the UK grew an inflation-busting 16.5 per cent in the year to February. This is despite many of the products remaining the same size or even becoming smaller. Miller said growing conditions this spring were very different to last year when Britain experienced a much colder and wetter start to the fruit growing season. He said all farmers understood that they have to adapt to climate change, and be prepared for changing circumstances. "We have to invest in the technology. That means that we understand the weather impact on the crops and how we change our irrigation or feeding routines for the future," he said. Miller also welcomed the news that the government is in the process of resetting trade ties with the European Union, which should make it easier to export. The sooner a deal comes the better.
