Mixed weather yields sweeter strawberries, growers say

Spring's topsy-turvy weather conditions have led to sweeter, juicier strawberries being grown, according to the industry body that represents UK soft fruit growers. British Berry Growers said although the weather had delayed this year's strawberry season, it had helped produce fruit with "incredible sweetness and size". Patrick Wilson, 60, owner of Scalby Grange, a pick-your-own farm in Gilberdyke, East Yorkshire, said this year's weather had set him up for a good strawberry season. He said: "There's some beautiful ones at the moment - lovely, red and sweet." Wilson, who took over the pick-your-own farm from his late father, said the weather does "put a fair amount of stress" on farmers. "We can do our best, we can put all our attention into growing them, but the weather decides whether it's a good season or a poor season," he said. "The start of spring was really cold, frosty mornings, which has delayed the onset of the flowering. "But then we got the rainfall when we needed it in early May and then we got the heatwave at the end of May, which has really brought the fruit on and ripened it up." Some parts of the UK had one of the driest Aprils on record before unseasonably low tem