British strawberry-growers have adopted innovative methods to supply the nation with domestically-grown strawberries on Christmas Day.
Two producers from West Sussex have seen a 40% increase compared to last year, harvesting 38 tonnes for this festive season.
Backed by Tesco, the new technology not only reduces water consumption by 50% but also generates 3.5 times more fruit per square metre, ensuring strawberries can be enjoyed all year round.
Wicks Farm in Ford, near Arundel, and The Summer Berry Company (TSBC) situated in Colworth, near Chichester, are the enterprises at the forefront of this agricultural revolution. David Moore, managing director at Wicks Farm, described their system: "This is grown hydroponically, with a water feed instead of in soil, in multiple stacked layers in an indoor environment."
He went on to say, "This guarantees yields while improving the supply of healthy, nutritious food and minimising the miles involved in its distribution."
Meanwhile, TSBC—the UK’s top producer of greenhouse strawberries—is growing winter strawberries following a £6 million investment in state-of-the-art technology. The company aims to produce 600,000 punnets from 175,000 plants during the colder months.
Chief executive David Sanclement at TSBC detailed that the tech integration, including heat pumps, a site-wide heat network, and LED lighting, will decrease the site's dependence on fossil fuels, marking another step towards sustainable agriculture. He stated: "We’re all familiar with British strawberries at Wimbledon and Royal Ascot but not so used to them being served on Christmas Day after the Turkey. We believe our new technology provides a superior-tasting fruit, all grown within West Sussex."
Tesco buying manager, Callum Baker, said: "These are only very early days in the advent of winter strawberry production in the UK but the 38 tonnes produced by our two growers are a very exciting step in the right direction. The production breakthrough will mean that lucky Tesco shoppers in West Sussex and surrounding areas will be able to offer delicious British strawberries to their family and guests this Christmas."
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