A golden year for British cherries: Tesco commits to local sourcing for the entire season, driven by favorable weather, innovative varieties and a revitalized industry.
British cherries are ready to take over Tesco’s shelves. The UK’s largest supermarket chain has announced it will sell exclusively UK-grown cherries, capitalizing on an exceptional season sparked by a warm and sunny spring.
Starting this week, all ranges – except for the Suntrail Farms brand, which will follow at the end of July – will be 100% Made in the UK. This strategic choice is based on the superior quality of the product: cherries that are sweeter, juicier, and larger than in previous years.
Tesco has partnered with British growers to introduce early- and late-ripening cultivars, extending the season to as long as ten weeks. A remarkable leap from recent years, and a clear sign of the industry’s renewed vitality.
Olivia Amey, Tesco’s cherry buyer, explained:
“The increased daylight hours and constant sunshine have positively impacted the quality of the harvest, and our customers will notice. Production kicked off strong early in the season, allowing us to meet summer demand entirely with local produce.”
Among the key players in this revival is AC Hulme, located near Canterbury in Kent. Its director, Tom Hulme, highlights how the UK cherry industry has undergone radical changes in the past 20 years, thanks to the adoption of dwarf rootstocks and varieties better suited to the local climate.
The shorter trees are grown under plastic tunnels that recreate a Mediterranean-like microclimate, providing shelter from the unstable British weather and enabling ground-level harvesting without ladders. The result: lower costs, easier access to fruit, and ever-higher quality.
In 2025, national cherry production is expected to reach around 8,000 tonnes — four times more than in 2018 and well above the 559 tonnes harvested in 2015.
Among the varieties mentioned by Hulme are Sweet Aryana and Grace Star for the early season, and Kir Rosso to extend the harvest by about ten days. Other tools include the use of tunnels with differentiated covers to control sun exposure, and post-harvest chambers with controlled air conditions to enhance shelf life.
“This year conditions have been favorable and we expect one of the best seasons in recent years: a fleshy, firm fruit bursting with sweetness,” he concluded.
Source text and image: fruitnet.com
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