Whether baked into a muffin or blended into a smoothie, blueberries are quickly becoming one of the country's favorite snacks. Tesco has revealed that demand for blueberries has increased by 27 per cent this year. But growing demand for berries in Britain is rapidly outstripping what farmers are able to produce.

This year, UK buyers will buy no less than 57.000 tonnes of these berries, the equivalent of four times the weight of the Eiffel Tower. Callum Baker, Tesco berry buyer, says: 'Blueberries are the fruit of the moment as they are very popular with all age groups due to their reputation for being healthy.'

Demand for blueberries has grown 27 percent in the past year as consumers have become more aware of the fruit's potential health benefits. Tesco says the increase in demand for blueberries is due to growing recognition of their health properties.

Mr. Baker says their popularity has grown especially among children, who “over the last decade have made them a lunchbox staple.” An article published in Frontiers in Vitamin, and funded by the Highbush Blueberry Council of the United States, found that blueberries have a number of surprising health benefits.

Photography: Hall Hunter

The researchers concluded: “There is promising evidence to suggest that blueberry intake may be beneficial for cardiovascular health, prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, brain health and cognitive function, gut health, and exercise recovery.”

British producers are currently trying to increase their production to meet growing demand; In the coming years, major growers will increase their yields by 30 per cent by planting more varieties adapted to the British climate.

Blueberries are also relatively low in calories and high in fiber, which has made them popular with many looking for an alternative to sweets.

Thanks to this growing interest, blueberry farming in the UK now contributes £481 million to the economy.

However, Britain's ability to produce blueberries has so far been unable to meet growing demand.

Currently, British farmers produce just 6.000 tonnes of blueberries a year during the June to September growing season.

This means Britain needs to import almost 90 per cent of its blueberries from abroad.

These blueberries are mostly imported from Peru, which shipped 286.000 tonnes of the fruit to the UK in 2023.

This allows fruit to be purchased outside the British growing season, but means that transporting it generates a high carbon footprint.

Peru's dominance as the world's largest exporter of blueberries also means the price of the fruit can be volatile.

British growers such as Corridor Hunter (pictured) currently produce a total of 6.000 tonnes of the crop, forcing the UK to import almost 90 per cent of its blueberries.

In 2023, extreme heat in Peru caused yields to drop and triggered widespread berry shortages across the United States.

As supply dwindled, prices soared by 60 per cent, reaching $6 (£4,70) per pound.

In a report published last year, the International Blueberry Organization notes that prices have finally stabilized, but warns that current growing patterns may not be sustainable.

To try to produce more blueberries domestically, British farmers are currently increasing production.

In the coming years, British farms will increase UK agricultural yields by a third, reducing dependence on international imports.

Tesco says it is now working with Corridor Hunter, a British producer responsible for producing almost half of the UK's entire output.

In the last five years, Corridor Hunter has quadrupled its yield and can now produce 2.500 tons of blueberries a year.

Jim Ground, CEO of Corridor Hunter, says: “Demand for blueberries is at an all-time high and due to their current popularity we are planting an additional 55 hectares which should produce around 4000 tonnes of fruit once the plants mature. ”.

Mr Ground also says the company is starting to introduce new crop varieties that are better suited to the UK's cold, wet climate.

He says these crops will include “early and late maturing plants that will extend the current UK growing season from mid-June to mid-September.”

What are superfoods?

There is no official definition of a superfood, but the word generally refers to healthy foods or ingredients that are popular and said to have many health benefits.

Some people eat superfoods because they want to slow aging, be fitter, feel happier, or increase their intelligence.

Superfoods tend to come and go depending on trends.

The NHS is skeptical about the benefits of eating large amounts of a superfood and instead promotes a healthy, balanced diet.

10 of the most popular superfoods are:

• Blueberries
• Goji berries
• Chocolate
• Blue Fish
• Wheat grass
• Granada juice
• Green Tea
• Broccoli
• Garlic
• Beet