A Norfolk blackcurrant grower is hoping for a bumper harvest despite threats from summer rains - but he warned climate change is adding to future weather worries.
Mark Buckingham grows blackcurrants for drinks brand Ribena on land between Swafield and Trunch, near North Walsham.
So far, he has gathered three quarters of his harvest, with "very good yields" that he thinks will be "as good as we have ever had".
But the regular rain showers have created concerns over the berries' sugar content and their susceptibility to the fungal disease botrytis.
"It has been quite difficult because of the rain," said Mr Buckingham. "When the berries are damp or wet it reduces the sugar content - although why is a bit of a mystery.
"The longer we leave them, the sugar goes up until it reaches the optimum level, but we don't want to leave it too long when they are ripe because we are risking over-ripe berries getting wet and getting botrytis.
"So it is a really difficult balance. We have got some quite nice looking crops this year, 99pc of them are fine, but all this rain can spoil seemingly good crops."
A recent survey by Ribena manufacturer Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I revealed 83pc of its 34 blackcurrant growers believe climate change and extreme weather is impacting their harvests.
Mr Buckingham, whose farm is one of five Ribena growers in Norfolk, said his coastal location helped take the edge off last summer's record temperatures, which were "devastating" for some other growers.
But he said milder winters are just as worrying.
This year's crop benefited from a high number of "winter chill" hours - an extended period of cold temperatures which blackcurrant bushes need in order to bear fruit the following summer.
As temperatures rise, Mr Buckingham said it will become increasingly vital to breed climate-resistant new varieties such as Ben Lawers, developed by Suntory in partnership with the James Hutton Institute in Scotland.
"They say the colder the winter, the better the crop," he said. "Ribena have invested a lot of money into researching and breeding new varieties which are able to cope with milder winters.
"This year every variety is yielding well but the Ben Lawers has had very good yields, which is encouraging."
Although this summer has been relatively cool, Mr Buckingham said a return of last year's searing heat "is something that could affect us in future" - potentially prompting the farm to explore larger reservoirs or more efficient trickle irrigation.
5 FACTS ABOUT RIBENA
- The Ribena brand was established in 1938.
- There are 37 blackcurrants in each bottle.
- The name is derived from the Latin for blackcurrant: Ribes Nigrum.
- During the Second World War, Ribena was distributed for free to children and pregnant women as a source of Vitamin C.
- More than 90pc of the UK's blackcurrants are used to manufacture the drink.
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