Berry Gardens

Berry Gardens supply Fresh Direct’s customers with berries, cherries and plums. The business was founded over 40 years ago, in 1972, and is the UK’s leading berry and stone fruit supplier, supporting all of Britain’s leading retailers. They have grown from a small regional grower’s co-operative to a grower’s group representing all the principal production areas of the UK with overseas partners and key supplier status with the UK high street. Their history of specialisation and dedication means they are the berry experts with expert growers, sales staff and international suppliers and partners.

Berry Gardens Limited is the wholly owned marketing business of Berry Gardens Growers, this is unique in the UK. On joining the co-operative each grower owner becomes a member and shareholder in the co-operative with their growers being involved within the governance structure of the business. The Executive Team aims to meet all growers within their co- operative on a regular basis either on the farm or through their regional meeting programme.

Berry Gardens grower ownership ensures the shortest route to market and complete transparency in the supply chain. They have growers throughout the UK meaning they can ‘do local’ across the country. Retailers buy direct from the growers in the most efficient manner meaning their group of growers share the cost and benefit of Berry Gardens saving money in the supply chain.

They have worked hard to extend the season of UK production as berries normally have a very short domestic season during June and July for strawberries and raspberries and August for blackberries. They can now produce strawberries and raspberries from May to October and blackberries from June to September. British blueberries are now grown from mid-June to September. Overseas suppliers come in during the winter months to ensure that all the berries they supply have that taste of summer. This means that customers can enjoy quality berries whenever they want to and at good value.

Berry Gardens are committed to promoting responsible relationships so that customers can enjoy their fruit knowing that it has been harvested, packed and distributed with care for the environment and respect for all those in the supply chain. Their core values are those of openness, honest and fair dealing with growers, suppliers, staff and customers. They are currently investing in reducing the environmental impact of their British production and the carbon foot-print of their berries throughout the year. Berry Gardens farms are certified with GlobalGAP, Red Tractor, LEAF, SEDEX and Stronger Together.