Summer 2014 is the year for fruit it’s predicted
There’s nothing better than enjoy some fresh local fruit when you’re in the countryside or on the beaches on days out near our North Devon farm holidays. Well if you’re a strawberry fan then it’s time to get excited this summer – according to experts in the industry and local fruit producers, 2014 is the year for the strawberry! This year is set to see ‘home-grown’ strawberries being enjoyed as ‘sweeter and even tastier than ever’ thanks to a mild winter and warm spring. One place where the season is in full swing is at the Ashford Inn Fruit Farm, between Braunton and Barnstaple, where the owners have described to local newspaper an ‘exceptional’ start to the season – which includes much sweeter berries on offer. Fruit farm owner Jasmine Chesters said: “We’ve had moderate seasons the last few years – and a reasonable time last year – but this year has been one of the best starts we’ve ever seen. “We always start picking by the last week of April but this year we started picking the first two polytunnels a week earlier. “We stagger planting every couple of weeks but they are coming on quite quickly. “We’ve already started pick-your-own,” Mrs Chesters added. The industry body that represents berry growing suppliers to the UK supermarkets, British Summer Fruits, says that generally the plants are stronger this year, producing a larger, sweeter and all-round juicer crop.
