Commercial greenhouses giving UK growers the opportunity to meet soft fruit demands

Specialists in constructing and equipping large-scale glasshouses, Bridge Greenhouses, are seeing commercial greenhouses help British farmers satisfy the seasonal summer demand for soft fruits.

With sales for soft fruit at their highest during the summer months, 2024 has so far seen the UK experience unpredictable weather which is a challenge for soft fruit crops grown outdoors.

In addition, the transition away from imported food brought about by post-Brexit supply chain instability has contributed to a higher demand for UK grown soft fruits.

With rising demand and ongoing wet weather, Bridge Greenhouses predict that more UK growers will invest in greenhouse facilities for higher productivity when growing soft fruits.

“Soft fruits require warm and sunny conditions for steady growth and we’ve certainly been deprived of that in 2024! However, our customers have benefitted from better control over their environment when growing soft fruit in a consistent and controllable commercial greenhouse” says David Summerfield, Director of Bridge Greenhouses.

According to data from GOV.UK, the importation of soft fruit into the UK is decreasing each year with 144 thousand tonnes imported in 2023, down from 178 thousand tonnes in 2021.

With fewer imports, UK growers are keen to capitalise on expanding opportunities. According to GOV.UK, the value of the home-grown market for soft fruit has risen to £696m in 2023 from £580.5m in 2021.

With a growing market value, Bridge believes that greenhouse growing in Britain can be the solution that can help more farmers capitalise on the new soft fruit opportunities.

“Now importing less, supermarkets across the UK are needing to fill their shelves with more home-grown soft fruits, especially with the ongoing summer demand. By investing in commercial greenhouses, British growers can grab the opportunity to satisfy soft fruit demand by producing higher quantities of quality crops – all without needing to worry about unpredictable weather” adds David.

Founded in 1983, Bridge Greenhouses has been at the forefront of the UK horticulture for almost four decades, establishing commercial greenhouses throughout Britain for edible crops, medicinal plants, plant nurseries and flowers.

As well as erecting greenhouses, Bridge supply and install screens, lighting and other control technology which help British farmers maintain the ideal crop growing conditions. With their Vermako partnership, Bridge also supply Vermako poly houses for both small and large-scale operations.

“As a trusted name in greenhouses and horticulture, we’re enabling growers across the UK to have better control over their growing environment. With no need to rely on weather conditions, farmers can experience higher yields on strawberries, raspberries and more when growing in a commercial greenhouse” concludes David.

More information on Bridge Greenhouses can be found at https://www.bridgegreenhouses.co.uk/