The ‘berry’ surprising facts about Wimbledon’s strawberries

For two weeks each year, the world’s eyes are on Wimbledon.

 

Wimbledon may be THE event to attend for tennis fans, but there’s so much more to Wimbledon than the sight of Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, or Venus Williams sisters in their brilliant whites.

 

For some, the joy of Wimbledon lies within tucking into the world-famous strawberries and cream - but it's hard to imagine just how much work goes into making it possible for every spectator to get their very own dessert.

 

 

Wimbledon in Numbers

 

For the 39,000 spectators that visit the All England Club every day during the fortnight, it’s hard to escape the appeal of Wimbledon’s most famous snack - strawberries and cream.

 

Each Grade 1 strawberry is picked fresh from specially selected LEAF-registered farms in Kent and driven to Wimbledon for 5.30am each morning to be hand-checked, prior to the gates opening.

 

And it's not just strawberries which have unbelievable numbers. Each year, you can expect 230,000 glasses of Pimm’s to be poured and enjoyed, whilst 28,000 bottles of champagne will be popped open to enjoy with 140,000 portions of strawberries.

 

 

The History of Wimbledon’s Strawberries

 

While there is no definitive answer as to what started this delectable tradition, some suggest that the most likely cause is timing.

Wimbledon just so happens to take place during the very peak of British strawberry season - which is when the sweetest, juiciest strawberries are grown.

 

Early records of Wimbledon’s history also suggest that the tradition was adopted partly due to fashion - with strawberries in the 19th century only being available for a few weeks each year; weeks which happened to coincide with a tennis tournament attended by the upper crust of society.

 

Unlike today, where strawberries are readily available throughout the year, strawberries were a luxury, and eating them in public was a sign of prosperity.

 

 

How Many Strawberries are Sold at Wimbledon Each Year?

 

Did you know that each year during Wimbledon, over 28,000 kilograms of strawberries, divided into 140,000 punnets, and 10,000 litres of dairy cream are sold?

 

That equates to 28.4 tons of strawberries, or 1.92 million individual berries which, if laid end to end, would stretch for 37 miles. That’s from Wimbledon to Reading!

 

 

How Does Wimbledon Transport So Many Strawberries Each Year?

 

Transporting 140,000 servings of sweet, succulent fruit across the South East is a big job and here at Northgate, we have identified the best Euro 6 certified vehicles for the task that will also beat the congestion charge.

 

 

Small Vans

 

The Peugeot Partner L1 850 Professional is a small, environmentally friendly van - the perfect small van to transport Wimbledon’s punnets.

 

With a payload of 854kg, 33 vans will be required to transport the 28,000kg of strawberries throughout the event and with air conditioning as standard and a rear parking aid, the Peugeot Partner will ensure the delicate fruit will arrive undamaged.

Economical at CO2 emissions of 112g/km and an excellent 65.7 MPG, the Peugeot Partner is a small and nippy solution for driving the city.

 

 

Medium Vans

 

The Volkswagen Transporter T28 Startline is one of Northgate’s most popular vehicles. With a payload of 918kg, this medium van will ensure only 31 vans are required to transport the berries during the fortnight.

 

With a load width and height of 1,700mm and 1,635mm respectively, the fruit can be loaded and unloaded from the Volkswagen Transporter with ease.

 

Due to its greater size, the MPG is lower than that of the Peugeot Partner, but still at a respectable 47.1 and with CO2 emissions of 156 g/km.

With features such as Bluetooth connectivity, USB connection and DAB radio, the delivery person can keep up to date with Wimbledon as they carry out their important strawberry duties.

 

 

Large Vans

 

The Ford Transit L3H3 350 is the perfect large van for transporting a huge amount of strawberries to Wimbledon. This can be done in only 25 vehicles too, due to its payload of 1146kg and combined with its large loading spaces, it is the perfect solution for moving bulky goods.

 

Boasting impressive key features such as blind spot eliminator mirrors, emergency brake assist, hill start assist, roll stability control, and Bluetooth/USB/iPod connectivity, it’s not hard to see why Ford is the best-selling van supplier in the UK.

The Ford Transit 350 also has CO2 emissions of 185-187 g/km and a combined MPG of 39.2-39.8, meaning it is exempt from the London congestion charge due to its Euro 6 certification, despite its size.

 

 

Reliable Fleet Solutions with Northgate Vehicle Hire

 

Whether you need to deliver goods, carry heavy construction tools or transport 28,000 kilograms of strawberries, our team is ready to assist you in finding the ideal vehicles for your business, offering the right van to meet your fleet requirements. 

 

Discuss flexible terms, reduced rates and comprehensive service packages to experience the convenience and cost-effectiveness of Northgate's long-term van hire.