Environment & Climate

UK berry harvest rises 6% as heatwaves aid yields, though cereal crops decline

Investment in polytunnels and drip irrigation protected berry yields during record heatwaves, while cereal and blackcurrant production suffered.

Updated Aug 27, 2026 · 04:17 UTC1 reports

The short version

The UK berry harvest is up 6% from last year after two-thirds of crops were picked, benefiting from investments in climate insulation like polytunnels and drip irrigation.
While blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries saw strong volumes, cereal crops suffered, with wheat output running 13% below the five-year average.
Roughly 40% of berry producers still lack private reservoirs or licensed boreholes, leaving them vulnerable to mains water restrictions during droughts.
Late-season strawberry production may slow in early autumn as plants face exhaustion from heavy cropping during extreme heat.

According to British Berry Growers (BBG), the UK berry harvest is up 6% compared to the previous year, with two-thirds of the crop picked.[The Guardian]
Volumes of blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries performed strongly, whereas blackcurrant production is projected to decline by 10%.[The Guardian]
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board reported that wheat yields are 13% below the five-year average, while spring barley yields are expected to drop roughly 25% below average.[The Guardian]
Approximately 40% of UK berry producers lack a winter storage reservoir or licensed borehole, leaving them dependent on mains water or river abstraction licences.[The Guardian]

It remains uncertain whether late-season strawberry yields will slow significantly in early autumn due to plant exhaustion from prolonged high temperatures.[The Guardian]