Scarlet FEVER

GROW STRAWBERRIES TO RIVAL WIMBLEDON'S NEXT SUMMER

- DIARMUID GAVIN

EVERY year the tennis supporters at Wimbledon munch their way through more than 38 tons of strawberries.

The tournament is synonymous with the berry and has been served there since the competition began in the late 19th century. In those days, it was a delicacy and only seasonally available for a brief period in July.

In 1893, Bernard Champion arrived in Mereworth in Kent with a view to growing fruit to supply the family stall in Covent Garden.

He noticed wild strawberries were flourishing in the local woods, so decided to try his hand at them. Today his business, Hugh Lowe Farms, is still in family hands and has been supplying Wimbledon with its delicious crop for the last 25 years. 'Malling Centenary' is their favourite June variety - it crops within 60 days and has excellent flavour.