September set to be best month yet for British blackberries

This predicted September surge also means that blackberry sales are forecasted to have increased by six percent by the end of September compared to the same month in 2023.   

This comes at the perfect time for blackberries, as growers indicate that, thanks to recent breeding breakthroughs,  

British blackberries are now far larger and vastly more flavourful than the smaller, traditional hedgerow varieties that Brits may be accustomed to, and well worthy of a place in consumers’ baskets, British Berry Growers said. 

Embracing blackberries 

However, despite the exceptional quality of this year’s crop, there is still work to be done to bring blackberries on par with strawberries, raspberries and blueberries in the eyes of British consumers, the industry leaders said.  

A spokesperson for British Berry Growers added: “In fact, blackberries’ market penetration sits at just 14 percent, compared to just under 50 percent for raspberries, despite being from the same ultra healthy (rubus) family.   

“This is vastly different from countries such as the USA, the Middle East, and South Africa, where blackberry consumption is much more on par with that of raspberries.  

“The UK population has been slower to embrace blackberries, perhaps due to the prevalence of wild blackberries, which, while abundant, don’t compare to the cultivated varieties.”  

However, given how raspberries in the UK have grown from seven percent market penetration to approximately 48 percent in the last two decades, and the exceptional quality of British blackberries now available, there is every reason to believe that blackberries can achieve the same success.   

Nick Marston of British Berry Growers said: “The growth in blackberry sales this year highlights a clear shift towards higher quality fruit. With the quality of this year’s crop, characterised by larger and more flavourful berries, we are seeing a positive response from consumers and a promising outlook for the future of the blackberry market.   

“The goal amongst Britain’s berry growers is to increase blackberry consumption to levels more in line with raspberries and blueberries – since so few Brits have tried shop-bought-blackberries, there’s a huge discovery waiting to happen. We encourage anyone with a sweet tooth to experiment with blackberries to discover this delicious and nutritious fruit.”  

For a range of seasonal blackberry recipes, head to Love Fresh Berries – Recipes.   

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