British strawberries are shapely and sweeter this season

This spring has also seen exceptional pollination activity during March and April, according to British Berry Growers.

The industry body, which represents 95% of all British-grown berries sold in the UK, has also said that the flavour profile of the 2025 yield of strawberries leans towards the sweeter end of the scale, owing to unusually high sunshine levels this spring.

Nick Marston, chairman of British Berry Growers, said: “This year’s early season strawberries are looking exceptional in both flavour and form.

“The warm weather, high light levels, and active pollination have come together beautifully. We’re expecting a strong yield and outstanding taste quality this season.”

Sheer variety of strawberries

Pollination from bees is also an essential factor in producing the shapely strawberry figure that consumers love.

The high light levels and mild weather in the early stages of spring also brought the crop forward by around seven days compared to other years, according to growers.

Amelia McLean, director of Kent-based Hugh Lowe Farms, said: “This year’s weather has already produced berries that not only look fantastic but are also sweet and full of flavour. Given that we are at the front end of the season, we’re excited to see this trend continue to deliver premium berries to supermarket shelves this summer.”

Peter Judge, group managing director at S&A Produce and director at British Berry Growers, explained that the start of the British strawberry season is always a highly anticipated time, and this year is no exception.

He added: “The warmer, sunnier bursts interspersed with cooler snaps earlier in the year allowed the crop to develop slowly. This has supported the creation of strong root systems, which create a really strong engine for the plants to grow fantastic fruit with excellent levels of natural sugars.

“One of the amazing things about our UK growers is the sheer variety of strawberries they produce. I’d encourage consumers to look out for the varieties on packs and try something new this year. There’s so much choice now that there really is a strawberry for every palate.”

Jill Witheyman, head of marketing at Angus Soft Fruits, added: “A strong season like this is not just great for consumers; it’s vital from a grower’s business perspective too.

“High-quality fruit and consistent yields help us meet customer demand, maintain strong relationships with our buyers – the supermarkets – and reinforce our reputation for excellence. Healthy, thriving crops are also more efficient to manage and harvest, supporting both the sustainability and long-term growth of our farms.”

British strawberries are now available in major supermarkets across the UK.

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