"UK Blackcurrant Harvest Hit by Extreme Weather, £200,000 Investment to Help Farmers Cope Britain's blackcurrant harvest is expected to be significantly lower than average this year due to a combination of wet winters, spring frosts, hail, and heatwaves that have plagued the country. The owner of Ribena, the popular blackcurrant drink, is stepping in to help farmers adapt to the changing climate with a £200,000 investment aimed at making blackcurrant bushes more resilient to stress. The investment comes as the harvest gets underway in key regions such as East Anglia, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Kent, and Scotland, where farmers are facing a 10% decline in yields compared to the average 10,000 tonnes. As the climate crisis continues to drive extreme weather events, this support from Ribena's owner could be a crucial lifeline for the UK's blackcurrant farmers."
The £200,000 move comes after harvests in Britain hit by wet winter, spring frost and hail, then heatwavesThe owner of Ribena is to invest £200,000 in helping blackcurrant bushes withstand stress after extreme weather put a squeeze on this year’s UK harvest.That harvest is now under way in the berry’s main growing regions including East Anglia, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Kent and Scotland. It is expected to be about 10% below the average of 10,000 tonnes, as the climate crisis drives extreme weather across Britain and elsewhere. Continue reading...
