UK blackcurrant harvest arrives two weeks earlier
26th July 2025
The UK’s blackcurrant harvest is already in full swing – two weeks earlier than usual – thanks to the warmest, driest spring on record.
Growers across the country are reporting a strong, high-quality crop, with the first fruit being picked on 25th June. This marks one of the earliest harvests in recent memory, and some farmers are already finished for this year.
Unusually, the season began in Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, rather than the typical early-harvest counties of Kent and East Anglia, highlighting a shift in regional growing patterns.
Despite extreme weather, including prolonged dry spells and intense heatwaves in June and July, yields have held up, with many growers reporting harvests slightly above the national average.
Jo Hilditch, chairperson of the Blackcurrant Foundation, said: “This year’s spring brought more sunshine hours than the whole of 2024.
“That helped ensure a strong fruit set and a high sugar level in the fruit. The winter provided sufficient chill hours to support even bud break, resulting in a consistently ripening crop, which is ideal for quality. But the ongoing water stress challenged growers across the country.
“The recent intense summer heat has been scorching and tiring for the fruit and the pickers alike. Thanks to the vigorous growth from last year’s wet conditions and strategic use of irrigation, we’ve come through with an excellent crop.”
Ben Lui and Ben Macdui varietes
Two harvesters ran early in the morning to beat the July heat as the blackcurrant harvest got underway in Herefordshire.
A highlight of the season has been the performance of two new varieties, Ben Lui and Ben Macdui. Bred for climate resilience by the James Hutton Institute in partnership with Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I, both varieties have impressed with their ability to deliver consistently large, flavour-rich berries under pressure.
Harriet Prosser, agronomist at Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I, said: “Seeing Ben Lui and Ben Macdui deliver such strong results in a challenging season is incredibly encouraging.
“These varieties were bred with climate volatility in mind, and this year has really tested them. Their performance reinforces the value of long-term R&D and our commitment to future-proofing blackcurrant production in the UK.”
Today, over 90% of all British-grown blackcurrants go into the making of the soft drink Ribena. The rest supports a growing demand for frozen berries, cordials, jams, and craft beverages.
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