Time is ripe for strawberries

SUMMER came early for Irish people this year — thanks to home-grown strawberries going on the shop shelves three weeks earlier that in 2002.

Bord Glas, the horticultural development board, attributes the earlier than usual Irish strawberry season to unseasonably sunny weather in March.

Not only are the strawberries early, but Irish growers say this year's crop is juicier, tastier and bigger than ever before.