Sweeter strawberries after 'perfect' spring

In 2025, a farm near Chichester has experienced an exceptional strawberry season, with the fruits growing larger, sweeter, and lasting longer than usual. This success is largely due to record-breaking spring sunshine and ideal weather conditions. According to provisional data from the Met Office, the UK has seen its driest spring in over fifty years, which has positively influenced the growth of strawberries on the farm. Bartosz Pinkosz, the operations director at The Summer Berry Company, explained that the combination of warm days and cooler nights during March, April, and May created the perfect environment for the berries to develop. The farm uses polytunnels, which are special plastic-covered tunnels that protect the plants and help control the growing conditions. These tunnels, along with reservoirs to manage water supply, have helped the farm maintain healthy crops despite the dry weather. The Summer Berry Company manages 300 acres of polytunnels and 62 acres of glasshouses, allowing them to produce strawberries throughout the year and supply most major UK retailers. However, Mr. Pinkosz also expressed concerns about the future impact of climate change on fruit growing. He noted that strawberries do not thrive in extremely hot or wet conditions, which could become more common. To address this challenge, the company is developing new strawberry varieties that can withstand harsher weather, ensuring that they can continue to provide high-quality fruit even as the climate changes.