In the heart of the English countryside, Shakhboz Yakhshiboev, a seasonal fruit picker from Uzbekistan, begins his day at dawn. Against the backdrop of the rising sun, Yakhshiboev meticulously inspects row after row of strawberries, making the split-second decisions that determine whether a berry is worthy of picking. Yakhshiboev is just one member of a 32-person team responsible for supplying fresh strawberries to the Wimbledon tennis tournament.
The iconic combination of strawberries and cream has become a beloved tradition at Wimbledon, rivaling the Honey Deuce cocktail at the U.S. Open or the pimento cheese sandwich at the Masters Tournament. Tournament organizers reported a record-breaking 249,470 servings of strawberries sold in 2018, along with 10,000 liters of cream used to enhance their flavor. This year, more than two million strawberries are expected to be served within 24 hours of being picked, creating a considerable demand for Yakhshiboev and his team.
These pickers come from various countries, including Romania, Lithuania, Portugal, Ukraine, Poland, and Australia. Their collective understanding of Wimbledon’s significance as an international sporting event helps to foster a strong sense of teamwork and dedication among the group. Marion Regan, the managing director of Hugh Lowe Farms, which supplies strawberries to Wimbledon, acknowledges this mutual understanding, remarking on the pickers’ awareness of the tournament’s importance.
However, strawberries hold a deeper meaning for the British people. References to strawberries can be traced back to the 16th century, when wild strawberries were enjoyed by the upper classes. Over time, the popularity of strawberries grew, and so did their presence in literature, with mentions found in the works of Francis Bacon, Shakespeare, and Jane Austen. The modern British strawberry, larger and juicier than its predecessors, emerged in the 19th century as a result of horticultural experimentation and breeding.
The connection between Wimbledon and strawberries dates back to the tournament’s beginnings. Regan’s great-grandfather, Bernard Champion, first cultivated strawberries in Kent in 1893. Since then, the operation has evolved significantly, incorporating same-day transportation, advanced tracking systems, temperature control, and vibration monitoring to ensure the highest quality strawberries reach Wimbledon.
The process of preparing strawberries for Wimbledon starts with a carefully selected variety, the Malling Centenary, which produces a large crop within a short timeframe. Before the tournament, Regan and her team decide which strawberry plants will be dedicated to Wimbledon and hand-pick the best strawberries based on specific criteria. They must be the right size, shape, and color, with no signs of softness or discoloration.
Once chosen, the strawberries are carefully packed and transported to Wimbledon. Bar-coded batches allow for feedback to the pickers, ensuring continuous improvement in strawberry quality. The fruits are chilled, weighed, and packed into delivery trucks, which are equipped with temperature and vibration monitors so Regan and her team can closely monitor the strawberries’ condition during transit.
At Wimbledon, a dedicated crew prepares the strawberries by removing the stems, ensuring each punnet contains the perfect ten strawberries. By midday, the concessions open their doors, and eager tennis fans queue up for their strawberries and cream, a quintessential Wimbledon experience.
Back at Hugh Lowe Farms, Regan receives updates on the tournament from her son and continues to manage the farm alongside the demands of their most prestigious customer. Despite the long hours and the dedication required, Regan finds solace in the fact that she is producing something beloved by millions. The commitment of the entire team at Hugh Lowe Farms, including Yakhshiboev and his fellow pickers, ensures that the journey from seed to Centre Court is a seamless one, and strawberries remain an integral symbol of Wimbledon’s rich traditions.
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