The cherry season is expected to arrive early in the United Kingdom, and the sight of cherry blossom trees at the family-run Kent Little Sharsted Farm visually confirms it. This year, the UK cherry season has seen an early bloom due to favorable weather conditions. The fruit is expected to hit supermarket shelves as early as late May.
The cherry season in the country lasts only two months, from mid-July to mid-September, a shorter season compared to other major producing countries like Turkey, the United States, and Chile. Most of the country's cherry trees require pollination by honeybees, which heavily rely on the transfer of pollen from flower to stigma by the insect.
Without bees, cherry trees would struggle to produce fruit. The UK has lost 13 species of bees, and 35 are endangered due to urban development, intensive agriculture, extreme weather conditions, climate change, and pesticide use.
As the cherry blossoms in the UK are relatively small and low in nectar, honeybees play a crucial role in increasing cherry production. Jon Hillary, cherry product manager at Driscoll's, states that climate plays a fundamental role in the pollination process.
"As we prepare for the cherry season, we are expecting to see cherry growth a bit earlier than usual for this season," he says. However, cherry blossoms will need warmer and more stable weather conditions to ensure optimal pollination. Forecasts indicate an early start to the cherry season, but it will depend on the presence of a sunnier spring."
The organization is looking forward to delivering fresh British cherries to consumers. A report conducted by the CNR's Institute of Bioeconomy, with the support of European partners, shows that cherries are among the most appreciated fruits in the UK, although the country is not a major producer of this product.
Read the full article: Fresh Fruit Portal
Image: Woodland Trust
24 Mar 2025
The greenhouses in Qicun, China, are becoming a model for cherry cultivation thanks to advanced techniques, valuable varieties and cooperative management that improves productivity and guarantees high quality fruit, ready for the market as early as mid-April.
01 Jul 2024
Spanish offerings dominated the scene and played a particularly important role in Berlin. Fruit larger than 32 mm cost about EUR 8 per kg. In Hamburg and Cologne, the presence had expanded considerably and were therefore cheaper.
04 Nov 2025
Chile faces increasing water scarcity, threatening its world-class fruit industry. Efficient irrigation and optimized crop nutrition are key to maintaining yield and quality in changing climate conditions. Explore practical strategies to face this challenge.
04 Nov 2025
A recent study in France shows how mild winters disrupt dormancy in the Regina sweet cherry tree, leading to delayed blooming, malformed flowers, and lower productivity. These findings highlight the urgent need to adapt fruit farming to ongoing climate change in temperate regions
