With the second week of Wimbledon under way, box after box of its iconic strawberries are being consumed once again after the pandemic threw last year's crop into disarray.

The tournament is supplied by Hugh Lowe Farms in Mereworth, based in between Sevenoaks and Maidstone.

In 2019, the farm supplied more than 33 tonnes of the succulent summer fruit to the famous tennis tournament but, last year, due to the coronavirus health crisis, there were no crowds descending on SW19, meaning far less demand, and many being diverted to food banks to stop them from being wasted.

But crowds - and strawberries - have returned for the 2021 edition of the championships, with owner and director of Hugh Lowe Farms, Marion Regan, saying she estimates around 22 tonnes of strawberries have been sent up to The All England Club.

That is the equivalent of just less than two double decker buses.

“They have, obviously, not run a full event with regards to spectator numbers. But they have still taken a lot of strawberries,” she said.

“Probably not quite as many as they would normally but, this week, they are talking about having full capacity on centre court and court one for the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.

“So I think they have taken about two-thirds of what they would normally take.

“Quite a lot of people enjoyed strawberries at home last summer.

“I think Wimbledon is trying to continue that theme because they are making it possible, for those who haven’t been to the championships, to order a cream tea to have at home, watching the tennis.

“Those people have also been able to have our strawberries in that way.”

The 60-year-old said the farm usually produces an incredible 5,000 tonnes of fresh berries between April and November in total each growing season.

An east London food bank was offered the surplus strawberries last year but Mrs Regan, who took over the family business from her father Hugh Lowe, says excess fruit has not been as much of an issue this time around.

“Sales have been okay in other areas so that hasn’t really been a problem,” said Mrs Regan.

“We are just pleased that Wimbledon is up-and-running, and the championships are going well and British players are doing well.”

Indeed, one of those British players who has impressed is Bromley teenager Emma Raducanu who reached the second week of the championships. The 18-year-old retired from her fourth-round match against Ajla Tomljanovic on Monday after she suffered breathing difficulties.

On the farm, meanwhile, the unpredictable weather has had an impact on the crop they have been growing.

Mrs Regan said: “The main issue we have had to deal with has been the weather. But that is what a grower would always say.

"They have still taken a lot of strawberries..."

“It has been quite a difficult spring and summer. We had a very cold spring, so the crop was delayed and, since then, we have been playing catch up really.”

Soft fruit farms across Kent have been impacted by the lockdown and restrictions on the movement of workers within Europe after Brexit.

Mrs Regan admits this has had a big impact, not just on Hugh Lowe Farms, but across the industry.

She said: “There is a shortage of people able to pick fruit across the whole sector. It is tight here but we are okay, we have managed to welcome back people who have come here before in previous years and also some new faces.

“In common with other fruit growers, we are concerned that it is quite difficult to find people who are able to pick fruit, just like the logistics people are finding it hard to find people to drive lorries and so on.

“It is partly to do with the pandemic but it is mainly to do with the Brexit rules on free movement of labour, so it is the same story for HGV lorry drivers, really.”

But with the strawberry season taking place from April until November in the UK, Mrs Regan is optimistic they will have a good year in 2021, as the country slowly unlocks after the pandemic.

She said: “I think we are going to keep operating with care here on the farm because we are very conscious of keeping everybody safe and secure.

“But in terms of sales, I think we are hoping that people will be going out, eating strawberries in pubs and restaurants, and at weddings.”

Read more: All the latest news from Malling