English raspberries have made what is thought to be their earliest-ever appearance on supermarket shelves after the sunniest winter on record . Waitrose will stock the Chichester glasshouse-grown Diamond Jubilee berries from today , claiming it is the first time consumers have been able to enjoy locally grown varieties in March . The berries are grown in glasshouses by Harry Hall , who supplied the supermarket with the first strawberries of the season earlier this month . The early delivery is thanks to the weather this winter , which the Met Office has said was the sunniest since records began in 1929 . Laurence Olins , of industry body British Summer Fruits , said : 'This is probably the earliest we 've seen English raspberries . ' Waitrose raspberry buyer Nicki Baggott said : 'It 's incredibly unusual to have these ready in March , but a combination of growing techniques and perfect weather means we can sell these juicy delights earlier than ever . ' Just 200kg of the berries are expected this week , but there should be around a tonne produced every week afterwards . Waitrose will stock the Chichester glasshouse-grown Diamond Jubilee berries from today , claiming it is the first time consumers have been able to enjoy locally grown varieties in March . The early delivery follows British-grown strawberries becoming available weeks earlier than previous years . This is thanks to the weather this winter , which the Met Office has said was the sunniest since records began in 1929 . The figures for rainfall and temperature were average , but the number of sunny days was 125 % of the long-term average . Raspberries were once regarded as a late summer crop , but British Summer Fruits said growers are using new varieties and innovative methods to extend the season .
Waitrose to stock glasshouse grown berries for the first time ever in March . 200kg of the berries expected this week with a tonne produced next week . Comment: