British raspberries up to 50% sweeter after cool spring and May sun, say growers

Favourable growing conditions had produced an ‘exceptional crop’, British Berry Growers said (Simon Price Media Assignments/PA) - (PA Wire)

British raspberries are up to 50% sweeter than usual because of the cool spring followed by record-breaking May temperatures, according to industry representatives.

This season’s raspberries are registering levels of 11 to 12 on the Brix scale – which measures the approximate sugar content of fruit – compared with average readings of around eight.

British Berry Growers, which represents the industry, said the increase was the biggest seen in years.

This year’s raspberries were said to be ‘something very special’ (Simon Price Media Assignments/PA) (PA Wire)

Growers are attributing the “standout” quality of this year’s berries to the prolonged cold spring, which allowed them to develop healthy leaf canopies and root systems without heat stress.

When the warmer weather arrived, it ripened the fruit slowly and evenly, turning the berries a deep red and with a sweeter flavour profile.

British Berry Growers chairman Nick Marston said: “The arrival of the British raspberry season is always a welcome moment and this year, with careful management, our growers have a wonderful crop developing.

“Strawberries may have grabbed the headlines earlier in the season, but now it’s raspberries’ turn. The same favourable growing conditions have produced an exceptional crop, with fantastic sweetness, flavour and quality.

“Our growers are harvesting fruit of exceptional quality and flavour.”

Lochy Porter, co-founder at Angus Soft Fruits, said: “The raspberries are something very special this year. I’ve been growing them for 35 years, and I’ve rarely seen Brix readings like this.

“The cool spring set the plants up perfectly, then the sunshine came at exactly the right time. You can taste it straight off the raspberry cane.”

This season’s raspberries were bigger than usual as well as sweeter, one grower said (Simon Price Media Assignments/PA) (PA Wire)

George Beedell, head of business development at growers WB Chambers in Kent, said: “The slow start back in May is the secret here; it let the sugars really develop, so the berries are coming off the cane deliciously sweet this year.

“Then the sun arrived at just the right moment for a record-breaking bank holiday weekend. We’ve had warm days and mild nights, and that’s exactly what a raspberry wants.

“They’ve had time to develop more too, so they’re bigger than usual as well as sweeter.

“They’re eating beautifully right now; I’d call it a vintage year.”