Strawberry growers are predicting this year’s Driscoll jubilee strawberry harvest will be 20% bigger than last year’s, driven by soaring demand for the variety.

This year’s crop, which started going into retailers last week, is expected to come in at about 2,000 tonnes, up from roughly 1,665 tonnes last year.

supplier Berry Gardens said every major retailer was offering Jubilee as their premium variety in their top-tier own-label ranges this year.

Berry Gardens chairman Paul Kelsey said thesummer’s celebrations were a “super sales opportunity”. “Customers know they will get the best when it comes to quality and flavour,” he added.