British cherry growers are celebrating their most successful harvest in three years, with an estimated 8,000 tonnes of fruit expected this season.
The exceptional yield follows what Tesco has described as "the warmest UK Spring on record", creating perfect growing conditions for the crop.
The bumper harvest represents a fourfold increase compared to the production levels in 2018.
It comes after a shopper victory which saw UK strawberries become bigger and better than ever this spring.
A combination of extra sunshine and extended daylight hours throughout spring has transformed this year's prospects for British cherry farmers.
The remarkable turnaround means supermarket giant Tesco will be able to stock exclusively UK-grown cherries from early July onwards.
The quality of this year's crop has exceeded expectations, with cherries notably "bigger, sweeter, and juicier" than in recent years.
Tesco confirmed that the exceptional growing conditions have produced fruit of superior quality compared to previous harvests.
Tesco will be able to stock exclusively UK-grown cherries from early July onwards
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This improvement in both size and flavour marks a significant achievement for British growers.
The harvest's success ensures Tesco can source all its cherries domestically from early July, eliminating the need for imports during peak season.
Tom Hulme, Managing Director of mixed farm AC Hulme & Sons near Canterbury, expressed optimism about this year's cherry season, which now lasts 10 weeks, nearly double the length from five years ago.
"The British cherry industry is moving at pace again now and new varieties are being brought in that are not only better suited to the British climate to improve quality and taste but also to help us extend the growing season," he said.
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'Fleshy, firm, plump, and fit to burst with a great juicy surge of sweetness'
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He highlighted new early varieties, including Sweet Aryana and Grace Star, while late-season cherries, such as Kir Rosso, could add an extra 10 days.
The UK cherry industry's transformation has been dramatic, with production soaring from just 559 tonnes in 2015 to this year's projected 8,000 tonnes.
This revival stems from growers adopting dwarf rootstock grafted onto new tree varieties, producing smaller trees suitable for polytunnel cultivation.
These tunnels create "Mediterranean-like" microclimates that protect fruit from unpredictable British weather.
The compact trees can be harvested by workers on foot rather than using ladders, keeping British cherries competitively priced.
"Cherries are very susceptible to the weather, and if it is too rainy or too humid, the fruit suffers. The good news is that this year we have had pretty decent growing conditions," Tom concluded.
Tesco cherry buyer Olivia Amey also commented on the exciting news and what it means for shoppers.
She said: "The extra sunshine and daylight hours have played a major part in the quality of the fruit we've been sampling from around the country over the last few weeks, and we know customers are going to be impressed.
"And it's also meant that overall volume is up early in the season, meaning that we'll be able to meet the usual summer demand for cherries solely with British produce.
"We're also working with UK growers to extend the season by looking at new varieties of both early and late ripening cherries that can deliver a classic British-grown taste: fleshy, firm, plump, and fit to burst with a great juicy surge of sweetness."
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