Cold Snap Delivers Sweet Boost For Scottish Berry Growers
- Jun 9
- 3 min read
Scottish berry growers are heading into what could be a standout season after a wet and chilly start to the year helped create promising growing conditions in Angus.
Growers at Angus Soft Fruits say the cooler weather has given crops a strong start, with picking now well under way and expected to continue through to October. The business is hoping settled conditions over the coming weeks will allow fruit to develop the best possible size, flavour and quality.
The weather has been particularly favourable for Angus Soft Fruits’ Ava Monet raspberry, a larger and juicier variety bred by the company around eight years ago following a downturn in berry production.
While traditional raspberries are relatively small, the average Ava Monet berry weighs around 8–10g. This year, growers are forecasting a record-breaking yield for the variety.
Agronomist Alix Stewart told STV News: “We needed to breed something bigger and better.
“This is the largest amount of Ava Monet we’ve grown so far. The weather has been on our side, we’ve had a mix of sun, cloud and rain and it’s been relatively cool. The cool nights allow the plants to develop nice and slowly and ripen slowly into a nice, sweet berry customers love.”
As an agronomist, Stewart monitors crop health and diagnoses disease, with scientific crop management playing a central role in the success of the season.
The berries are grown in polytunnels, which help protect the plants from wind and rain while allowing growers to manage conditions by opening and closing tunnel doors and side vents. Once ripe, the fruit is packed and sent to supermarkets across the country.
Stewart said quality remains the key priority for customers and retailers.
“The bar is raised year after year. It’s also important when we’re breeding new varieties that they’ve got resistance to disease to grow nice, strong healthy plants.
“Quality is what customers are after, it’s important we breed high quality plants for the best tasting fruit.”
But while the harvest outlook is bright, the economic backdrop remains far more challenging.
According to growing data from Andersons Farm Business Consultants, since March 2026 fertiliser and crop protection costs have risen by around 35%, packaging costs by 17.5%, and transport costs by around 20%.
Farmers are also continuing to face difficulties securing seasonal labour following the UK’s exit from the European Union.
“We’ve had to go further afield each year to source pickers,” Stewart said. “The quality of labourers is important as we want to pick as many kilos per hour as possible. The cost to produce is a big challenge as well.”
Nick Marston, chairman of British Berry Growers, said the sector is facing another year of major inflationary pressure.
“British berry growers are once again dealing with significant cost increases driven by global events outside our control.
“What stands out here is the scale and the speed; we’ve seen sharp rises across fertiliser, packaging and transport in a matter of weeks, just as the UK season gets under way.
“For those producing in glasshouses, the increases in electricity and particularly gas prices add a further layer of cost at an already high base.
“These are core inputs. When they move at this level, it has a direct impact on the cost of producing British berries.
“As we move into the peak season, it’s important that these pressures are recognised across the supply chain.”
The season therefore presents a familiar contrast for British growers: excellent fruit, strong consumer appeal and promising yields, set against rising input costs and labour pressures that continue to test the resilience of the fresh produce sector.
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