SHOPPERS could see an unexpected item on shelves this Christmas for the first time ever.
Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencers have confirmed they will stock home-grown strawberries in their supermarkets this winter season.
Fruit suppliers have innovated new technology which allows strawberries to be grown in the UK all year round.
The Summer Berry Company, a supplier in West Sussex, will be growing the fruit 12 months a year and supplying supermarkets.
Strawberries are usually imported over winter due to economic and environmental reasons.
However, the company has installed £6million of fresh technology which will produce 600,000 punnets for the retailers over the colder seasons.
Shoppers will be able to get their hands on the British strawberries this Christmas as an exciting new addition to their festive celebrations and desserts.
Typically the British strawberry season runs from May to October, and are a familiar sight in summer commonly associated with the Wimbledon tennis tournament.
It is still unknown whether the price of the strawberries will change in supermarkets in accordance with the new supplier’s demand and quality.
Prices also naturally vary day to day, so its best to keep checking online.
For example, Tesco and Sainsbury’s are always launching new Clubcard and Nectar prices which are easy to view via the mobile app.
A 227g punnet of strawberries, sourced outside of Great Britain, is currently available in M&S and Tesco for £2.30.
While Sainsbury’s currently offers the cheaper deal, priced at £2 for 250g of strawberries – a greater quantity plus a 30p save.
The cheapest place to buy strawberries is Aldi, which retails its charming “wonky strawberries” from Belgium for just £1.39 a 227g punnet.
Remember that, while its good to be environmentally conscious, it’s more important to make sure you eat comfortably this winter in the cost of living crisis.
As always, we recommend you compare prices before you shop, by searching for the exact product you need on multiple different websites.
You can also use the “sort by” tool to select the “cheapest first”, making sure you secure all the best deals.
And by getting to the store at the right time (usually in the afternoon), you could also be lucky enough to spot some yellow stickers.
Keeping your eye out for yellow stickers means you can purchase perfectly healthy produce, which has simply passed its sell-by date, for a reduced price.
Many stores do this at the same time every day, so its good to note when reductions are happening if you notice them in your local supermarket – that way next time you could be the first in line.
THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop.
You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they’ve been reduced.
If the food is fresh, you’ll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time.
Making a list should also save you money, as you’ll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket.
Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too.
This means ditching “finest” or “luxury” products and instead going for “own” or value” type of lines.
Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they’re misshapen or imperfect.
For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.
If you’re on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too.
Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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