STV NewsA wet and cold start to the year has brought a boost to berry farmers who are expecting a bumper season.
Growers at Angus Soft Fruits are now hoping for settled conditions over the coming weeks to ensure crops develop maximum size and flavour. Picking is well under way and will continue through to October.
The cooler weather has proven particularly beneficial for the company’s Ava Monet variety, a bigger and juicier berry bred by the grower around eight years ago following a downturn in berry production.
While traditional raspberries are quite small, the average Ava Monet berry weighs around 8–10g. Growers are predicting a record-breaking yield for the variety this year.
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.”
STV NewsAs a plant doctor, Alix is responsible for monitoring the health of berry crops and diagnosing any diseases – a scientific approach is central to a successful season.
The plants are grown in polytunnels, which protect the crops from wind and rain. Growers can also open and close tunnel doors and side vents to foster better growing conditions.
Once ripe, the berries are then packaged and sent off to supermarkets across the country.
“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.”
Despite the optimistic harvest forecast, long-term economic challenges remain for the sector.
STV NewsSince March 2026, growing data from Andersons Farm Business Consultants show cost increases include an increase of around 35% in fertiliser and crop protection; 17.5% increase in packaging costs and transport costs rising by around 20%.
Farmers also face ongoing difficulties securing seasonal labour since the UK’s exit from the European Union.
“We’ve had to go further afield each year to source pickers,” Alix 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: “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.”
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