Berry good start for Irish producers

IS there anything that defines the taste of summer better than freshly-picked, juicy strawberries liberally doused in cream?

It’s the time of year when youthful strawberry vendors set up their stalls on roadsides up and down the country and, by all accounts, business is getting better all the time.

More than 76% of the population is now buying strawberries on a regular basis, an increase of 2.6% over 2009 figures, with annual sales in Ireland valued at €44 million.