Scottish Agricultural Census - provisional results: June 2020

Increase in soft fruit growing areas

Over the past year, the total soft fruit growing areas increased by seven percent. The estimated total area in June 2020 was 2,200 hectares. Strawberries are the most popular grown fruit. After a brief halt in growth in 2019, the area of strawberries continues to grow with a six per cent increase to 1,200 hectares.

Area of soft fruit: 2,200 hectares

Most fruit is grown under cover in either glasshouses or walk-in plastic structures called ‘Poly-tunnels’. This allows for a much longer growing season and almost 75 per cent was grown this way in 2020.

The area used to grow blackcurrants and other soft fruits, such as blueberries and tomatoes, also increased. The area used to grow raspberries continues to fall. Raspberries require the most skilled pickers and are heavily reliant on migrant labour.