Sales of cooking gooseberries at Waitrose have risen by 91% this season compared with last year, an increase the retailer put down to the adaptability of the fruit to British weather.

Waitrose, which also reported that sales of its later-season dessert gooseberries had risen 51%, said endorsements by Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall had also boosted sales. 

“Not only do gooseberries taste delicious, but their culinary uses seem to span both extremes of the British summertime – from comforting crumbles and pies to refreshing fools and granitas,” said Waitrose fruit buyer Nicki Baggott.