Area for strawberries decreases while blackcurrants increases 

Compared with the five year average, total soft fruit growing areas decreased by seven per cent in 2023. The estimated total area in June 2023 was 2,000 hectares. Strawberries remain the most popular grown fruit, but declined by 11 per cent to 1,000 hectares in 2023 compared with the five year average which was 1,100 hectares. In 2022 Defra also reported a decline in planted strawberry area of 5 per cent across the United Kingdom, this was partly due to old plants being removed and not replaced in 2022 (a process known as grubbing) (Defra report on horticulture statistics 2022).

The area used to grow blackcurrants and blueberries increased. The area used to grow raspberries has been in long-term decline since 2010.

Around 69 per cent of soft fruit is grown under cover in either glasshouses or walk-in plastic structures called 'poly-tunnels'.

Figure 8: Area of strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants and other fruit from 2013 to 2023