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Britain's sunny Spring brings bumper strawberries

Growers say that the strawberry season in Britain has started early this year, thanks to "near-perfect" spring conditions of warm days and cool nights, with high levels of sunshine.

This year, the favourable weather conditions meant that sweeter strawberries with larger and better-shaped shapes arrived earlier in supermarkets and at lower prices.

James Miller, commercial director at Maidstone-based WB Chambers Farms in southeast England, said that regular daytime temperatures of 20 degrees Celsius in May, dropping to 9 C over night, and high light levels, were key to an exceptional early season harvest.

"It's really helped to develop the plants and produce the large and sweet berries we have at the moment," said the man.

The warm, sunny weather this year has been a welcome addition to strawberry production.

Tesco, Britain’s largest supermarket group, announced late last month that it had purchased extra strawberries from UK strawberry farmers and reduced the price of 400g punnets for shoppers from 2,50 pounds ($3.38) down to 1,50 pounds.

This year, it is expected to sell 25% more strawberries than last.

Miller stated that the conditions for fruit production this spring are very different from last year, when Britain had a colder and wetter start to its growing season.

He said that all farmers understand the need to adapt to climate changes and to be ready for new circumstances.

We must invest in technology. "We have to invest in the technology."

Miller welcomed the news the government was resetting its trade relations with the European Union. This should make exporting easier. The sooner an agreement is reached, the better.

He said, "If this was the summer, this would be great." $1 = 0.7389 pounds (Reporting and writing by James Davey; additional reporting by Liza Premiyak, editing by Alexandra Hudson).

(source: Reuters)