Berries are pick of the crop

Scottish berries have been a dietary staple for more than a century, but this year they have experienced an astonishing surge in sales. Sales of raspberries have soared by 26 per cent to £35 million, strawberries are up 5 per cent to more than £165 million, and the most recent contender for the superfoods crown, blackberries, are up by a massive 31 per cent to £4 million. It's an impressive feat for the humble little berry - and Scotland is better placed than many countries to squeeze the most out of this bonanza. Today, 50 per cent of the raspberries eaten across the UK are grown in Scotland. Raspberries are certainly big business in Scotland. There are employed around 1,500 pickers, who pick about 1,500 tonnes of raspberries annually, and there is still need to increase production as demand is growing. Traditionally, the growing season in Scotland is July and August, but thanks to improved growing methods, the producers managed to stretch this from June to October. The very hot summer that was last year meant that yields were good at the beginning and middle of the season, but soaring temperatures in July meant that the autumn yield was much poorer.