MILLIONS of hand-picked Scottish cherries are set to hit the shelves of a UK supermarket following a major deal.
Asda has partnered with Scottish grower Peter Marshall & Co to extend the supermarket’s five-year deal with Marshall Farms through its supplied Scotty Brand.
It will see the supermarket expand from selling just branded products from the grower to include own-label fresh fruit, including an annual supply of 3 million cherries.
Based around Alyth in Perthshire, the farm is run by Rowan and Jennifer Marshall alongside Rowan’s parents Meg and Pete.
Pete’s grandfather Hally Marshall began growing raspberries in his garden in Alyth back in the 1930s.
The business has since expanded to include 1300 acres around the town.
Hand-picked punnets from the farms are available in around 160 Asda stores throughout the UK over the summer, with both Extra Special and own-label options.
“Cherries are amazing in Scotland because of the long light hours and cooler climate,” said Jennifer Marshall.
“Scottish cherries ripen slowly on the trees which increases sugar levels and quality, and we use the very best growing techniques and a range of varieties to ensure our farm can supply Asda with cherries late into the season.”
While Rowan added: “We have been farming in the area since 1942 and we are proud to be the fourth generation of Marshalls farming in Alyth.
“It’s fantastic to share this experience with our kids, who love getting involved with checking and picking the cherries.
“We are pleased to be at the forefront of cherry growers in Scotland with this united and evolving partnership with Asda.
“As one of only four Scottish cherry farmers currently in production, we are extremely proud of the quality of our produce and are excited to bringing the best available, juiciest cherries to Asda customers this season.”
Ashley Connolly, Scotland local buying manager at Asda said: "We're thrilled to expand our partnership with the Marshall family growers through our trusted supplier, Scotty Brand.
“For over five years, we've collaborated with Scotty Brand on branded products, and we are excited to evolve this relationship to include own-label fresh fruit produce.
“This milestone, featuring locally grown cherries from Marshall Farms, underscores our commitment to supporting Scottish growers and offering our customers the finest local produce."
