The UK blackcurrant harvest has arrived two weeks ahead of schedule following the warmest and driest spring on record.
Growers across the country have reported a strong, high-quality crop with the first fruit picked on 25 June, marking one of the earliest harvests.
Some growers have also already finished harvest.
The season began in Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, rather than the typical early-harvest counties of Kent and East Anglia, which growers said showed a shift in regional growing patterns.
Despite extreme weather, including prolonged dry spells and intense heatwaves in June and July, yields have held up, with many growers reporting harvest slightly above the national average.
“This year’s spring brought more sunshine hours than the whole of 2024,” said Jo Hilditch, chairperson of the Blackcurrant Foundation. “That helped ensure a strong fruit set and a high sugar level in the fruit.”
She explained that there were sufficient chill hours in the winter to support consistent ripening, but ongoing water issues “challenged growers across the country”.
“The recent intense summer heat has been scorching and tiring for the fruit and the pickers alike,” she added. “Thanks to the vigorous growth from last year’s wet conditions and strategic use of irrigation, we’ve come through with an excellent crop.”
Today over 90% of all British-grown blackcurrants go into making Ribena, with the rest supporting demand for frozen berries, cordials, jams and craft beverages.
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