West Sussex-based supplier, The Summer Berry Company, is believed to be the first in the UK to offer year-round commercial strawberry production. It announced plans to produce around 600,000 punnets of homegrown strawberries this winter for major supermarkets like Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Marks & Spencer.
As reported by the Fresh Produce Journal in March 2024, this marks the first time the company will grow strawberries between November and March, making it the first UK supplier to produce the fruit for 12 months at a commercial scale. For the first time, British strawberries will be available during Christmas and New Year.
Technology and innovation
Traditionally, the UK imports strawberries from Mediterranean countries to meet winter demand. However, The Summer Berry Company has achieved year-round production by using LEDs to create artificial sunlight, supported by a combined heat and power (CHP) plant.
Investment and environmental impact
The Cibus Fund, a private equity firm that acquired the company in 2019, has invested £6 million (about €6.9 million) in the new technology. CEO David Sanclement highlighted the environmental benefits, reducing the CO2 emissions from importing strawberries and offering tastier, higher-quality fruit to British consumers compared to imports.
Read full article: Fruitnet
