'Warm weather means strawberries are Easter ready'

Three weeks of warm weather mean Sussex-grown strawberries will be ready for Easter, a grower says

A Sussex strawberry grower says three weeks of sunshine has helped to produce a bumper crop of fruit which will be in supermarkets in time for Easter.

The Summer Berry Company, based in Colworth near Chichester, says recent warmer weather has helped it increase its production to 200 tonnes – 50 tonnes more than by the same time las year.

Jack Darnes, the company's commercial director, says he is "really excited" about the boost, with plants producing "lush-sweet tasting fruit".

Tesco berry buyer Callum Baker said that the growth burst would mean an estimated 500,000 punnets of strawberries arriving at its stores in East and West Sussex.

Mr Darnes added: "Strawberry plants love the English spring and summer climate; not too hot, not too cold with warm days and cool nights. This is why we produce the best strawberries in the world."

The Summer Berry company quality manager Silvia Sandu

Mr Baker said: "The arrival in stores of the first spring-grown British strawberries of the year creates a feel-good factor because it signifies the start of the UK fruit season and that summer is on the way.

"But their availability also brings a cheer from shoppers because British-grown strawberries are considered to be the best in the world because of our climate.

"Strawberries taste naturally sweeter when ripened in periods of sunny weather because it boosts their natural sugars."

Dry conditions also enhance the flavour of the strawberries, making them firmer and more flavourful, he said.

Additional reporting by PA Media.