UK farmers see strong blackcurrant harvest despite weather

The Blackcurrant Foundation, representing 36 growers, announced this impressive figure despite what it described as ‘another difficult growing season’.

Growers encountered challenging weather, including one farm in Kent that experienced an unusually wet winter, recording 1109.6mm of rain by the end of May.

The mild winter failed to provide sufficient chill for older blackcurrant varieties across most regions, with the exception of Scotland, according to the Blackcurrant Foundation.

However, preparations for the 2024 crop were made in July 2023, when favourable weather allowed the bushes to produce extension growth, which flowered this year and supports the current harvest.

Additionally, new climate-resilient varieties like Ben Lui and Ben Macdui are being harvested in significant quantities for the first time this year, with early yields and quality described as ‘very promising’.

Over 90% of British blackcurrants are destined for Ribena, with a small portion making their way to supermarket shelves and other products, including frozen formats and various soft and alcoholic drinks.

Jo Hilditch, chairperson of the Blackcurrant Foundation, praised this year's harvest but expressed concerns about changing weather patterns.

“The berries are the biggest I've ever seen, high in sugar and ready to go," she said.

"However, climate change is a serious issue, and the weather earlier this year made it very difficult and sometimes impossible to get our cuttings in the ground.”

Simon Hill, senior category buyer at drinks firm Suntory, noted that spring weather provided good growing conditions with ample rain, and unlike Europe, UK growers avoided late frosts that could damage the blossom.

“Warm weather in late May and early June accelerated the fruit ripening, and we started processing earlier than usual," he added.

"Recent wet weather has affected the fruit sugar but has given very good yields and a heavy crop.”