According to Nick Marston, Managing Director of Berry Gardens Ltd, the start to the 2010 cane fruit season has also been later than 2009.
 
“The picture is very similar to strawberries except that the delay to the start of the raspberry season is more like two weeks.  We have sold less raspberries to the 10th July than last year,” said Nick Marston at Fruit Focus, the industry exhibition held at East Malling Research on Wednesday 21st July, “but pleasingly, the value of those sales has risen.”

However, he continued, the amount of fruit being produced now was catching up rapidly.   “Last week (week commencing 4th July) was our record week for raspberry sales with a similar volume predicted again for this week,” he reported.

Berry Gardens’ share of the UK raspberry production is now over 50% and this will rise to 75% in August/September when the production of raspberries from Driscoll primocane varieties prevails.

“Our raspberry production area is up and the majority grown is now from Driscoll’s varieties; Maravilla and also some Cardinal and Pacifica,” said Marion Regan, Chairman of Berry Gardens Growers Ltd and the subsidiary marketing company.

Nick Marston expects to have sold at least 20% more British raspberries by the end of the 2010 season over 2009.  In addition, sales of Berry Gardens’ high quality frozen raspberries in premium packs are also increasing.
 
Blackberries

Blackberries were also later in starting cropping this year.  Nick Marston stated that Berry Gardens had less early blackberry production following last year’s difficult July market for blackberries, after which some growers decided to grub their canes.   

“We are only really just getting going with our blackberry sales now,” he said. “However, on the positive side for growers that remain in blackberries, values this year have been higher for early and glasshouse fruit.”

Nick Marston expects Berry Gardens to modestly increase the amount of blackberries sold by the end of the year.

“We are trying to increase our production of better eating blackberry varieties,” said Marion Regan, “and we are very pleased that Marks & Spencer are offering their customers this summer a ‘100% best eating varieties offer’, which includes Karaka Black, Driscoll Carmel and Driscoll Cowles.   The packs are labeled with clear consumer messaging that these are sweet eating, dessert blackberries, which will help build demand for the fruit and our blackberry business in the future.”

Nick Marston agreed that this type of initiative was to be commended.   “Where we offer consumers really great tasting product, they come back for more time after time.   Getting repeat purchasing is the key to increasing the sale of blackberries in the UK,” he said.

For further details, please contact:

Managing Director - Nicholas Marston  
Office telephone - 01892 838800 
Mobile - 07831 268286 
Email - nmarston@berrygardens.co.uk

Chairman - Marion Regan   
Office telephone - 01622 812229 
Mobile - 07850 295670 
Email - marion.regan@hlf.co.uk