20 June 2011

Soft fruit growers in Scotland are counting their losses after high winds swept through parts of the country over the last month, causing disruption and damage at the peak of the season.

Winds and storms on the East coast damaged polytunnels, which National Farmers Union Scotland representatives have said will delay the ripening and affected around 10 per cent of the crop. Although areas further South in Britain are currently experiencing drought, much of Scotland experienced above average rainfall in the first half of the year.

Peter Thomson, chair of the NFUS soft-fruit committee, commented, “Growers have put a tremendous effort in and repaired damaged tunnels on strawberries. But because fruit has been uncovered for a couple of weeks that has made the season later.”