Scottish Agricultural Census: June 2018

Soft fruit area continues to grow

Soft fruit areas – June 2018

Bulbs, flowers and hardy nursery stock

In June 2018, 960 hectares of Scottish land was used to grow bulbs, flowers and hardy nursery stock. This number has been decreasing since 2014.

Area used to grow fruit in Scotland : 2,100 hectares

The total area used to grow soft fruit in Scotland increased over the past year. The area rose by two per cent to 2,100 hectares in June 2018.

Strawberries are the most popular soft fruit grown in Scotland. Rising seven per cent in the past year, the area of strawberries grown in Scotland is now 1,100 hectares.

The area of both raspberries and blackcurrants fell in the past year. In June 2018, raspberries had an area of 270 hectares and blackcurrants of 280 hectares.

Most of Scotland's fruit is grown under cover in glasshouses or walk-in plastic structures. Over 70 per cent of the total area of soft fruit in Scotland was grown under cover in June 2018.