Overview
- Tesco began stocking field-grown British strawberries Friday in stores across Surrey, Kent, Herefordshire and parts of London.
- The retailer expects about 300 tonnes next week, equal to roughly one million punnets and about 40% of its strawberry supply, with UK-wide availability targeted by mid-May if weather holds.
- Growers report ideal conditions after a cool March, with Hall Hunter forecasting a 30% rise in output and producers expecting sweeter berries thanks to warm days and cool nights.
- Shoppers will see the Lady Emma variety in 400g packs priced at £2.50, signaling a broader shift from glasshouse to outdoor fruit.
- Supermarkets plan to scale back near-term imports from Spain and Morocco, though rising farm costs such as a 30% jump in fertiliser and doubled fuel bills continue to squeeze producers.