Sunshine fuels record growth for UK's jumbo strawberries
In the United Kingdom, unusually large strawberries have appeared, surprising supermarket customers. Thanks to an exceptionally sunny start to 2025, these fruits have grown significantly, yet their price has not increased.
Bartosz Pinkosz, Chief Operating Officer at Summer Berry Company, emphasizes that this year's strawberries are 10 to 20 percent larger than usual, with some reaching a weight of about 55 grams, which is comparable to the size of a large egg.
Duncan Robertson, founder of Dogtooth, a company that produces fruit-picking robots, noted that his machines are prepared to handle any size of strawberries.
Robertson explained that the robot has been optimized to handle fruits of varying sizes, noting that larger strawberries enable it to harvest more pounds per hour.
Weather favours crops
This year's spring in the United Kingdom was exceptionally sunny, favouring the growth of strawberries. April was the sunniest month since 1910, and mild temperatures ranging from 15 to 25°C created ideal conditions for growing fruits. Nick Marston, chairman of British Berry Growers, noted that early strawberries this year stand out in both taste and appearance.
While large and sweet strawberries delight the eyes and taste buds, there are concerns about a potential drought due to low rainfall. Chris Weston from Thames Water assures that the company is taking all necessary steps to prepare for possible water shortages on the Isles.
Challenges of cultivation
Despite the success in growing large strawberries, concerns remain over the use of pesticides. Strawberries are among the fruits most exposed to chemical contamination. To reduce the risk, it is recommended to wash the fruits in a solution of water with baking soda or vinegar before consumption.
