From Kent Farms to Wimbledon Courts: The Journey of Iconic Strawberries

Wimbledon is one of the most famous tennis tournaments in the world, and it is held every summer in London. One of the things that makes Wimbledon special is the tradition of eating strawberries and cream while watching the matches. This treat is so popular that even top tennis players like Aryna Sabalenka say they cannot stop eating the strawberries. But how does Wimbledon make sure there are enough strawberries for all the fans and players? The BBC decided to find out by following the strawberries from the farm where they are grown all the way to the tennis courts.

The strawberries served at Wimbledon come from Hugh Lowe Farms, which is located in Mereworth, Kent. This family-run farm has been supplying strawberries to Wimbledon for decades. Amelia McLean, who is part of the fifth generation working on the farm, says that the strawberries are probably the most photographed berries in the world. She and her family work hard to make sure the strawberries are perfect for the tournament. This year, the weather has been just right, so the strawberries are especially sweet and juicy.

However, growing strawberries is not always simple. The weather can be unpredictable, and climate change has made things even more challenging. Amelia explains that what used to be a rare heatwave now happens much more often. To deal with these changes, the farm has built a new reservoir to store water and collects rainwater from their greenhouses. This helps them keep the strawberries healthy even during dry spells. Every day during Wimbledon, the farm sends several tons of fresh strawberries to London.

Once the strawberries arrive at Wimbledon, they are taken to a special area where they are prepared for the fans. Ryan Stanton is the culinary purchasing manager at Wimbledon, and he is in charge of making sure the strawberries are delivered and distributed around the venue. He says that his team receives 15 to 16 pallets of strawberries every morning. They work quickly to get the strawberries to the Strawberry Centre, where they are prepared for eating.

Before the strawberries can be served, they need to be hulled, which means removing the green leafy tops. This job is done by a team of workers at the Strawberry Centre. Emily Ostrowska is one of the people who hulls the strawberries. She uses a spoon to carefully take off the tops, making sure not to waste any of the fruit. Emily says the work is fun, but after two weeks of hulling strawberries, she might get a little tired of them.

After the strawberries are hulled, they are packed into boxes and sent to the kiosks around Wimbledon. Fans can buy them and enjoy the classic treat of strawberries and cream while watching the matches. Even the players love them, with Aryna Sabalenka saying she cannot stop eating them. The tradition of eating strawberries and cream at Wimbledon is a big part of what makes the tournament so special.

So, the next time you see someone enjoying strawberries and cream at Wimbledon, remember all the hard work that goes into getting those berries from the farm to the tennis court. It takes careful planning, teamwork, and a lot of effort to make sure everyone can enjoy this delicious treat during the tournament.