The current warm weather looks set to last for at least another week which is great news for the visitors to Primrose Vale Farm Shop.

The popular farm shop, located on the Shurdington Road between Cheltenham and Gloucester, offers customers the opportunity to pick fruit and vegetables fresh from the fields, and with the current heatwave providing ideal growing conditions, owner Paul Keene is happy to be welcoming customers in record numbers. He said: “We’ve been here since 1999, in that time I’ve never known such an extended period of warm weather. The current weather is great for our fruit and vegetables, the sunshine coupled with daily watering creates the perfect conditions for our crops.

“Business has been really good, I can’t remember a busier time. At this time of year we sell a lot of strawberries, it’s very much in the national psyche that as soon as Wimbledon gets underway it means it’s strawberry time. We always see an increase in visitors as soon as the tournament gets underway. Customers can come and pick their own or, if they’re pressed for time, can come straight to our farm shop and buy them over the counter.

“As soon as we roll into July a lot of our fruit is ripe and ready to be picked. As well as our strawberries we’ve got raspberries, gooseberries, redcurrants, blackberries plus many others. Later in the summer our apples, plums and pears will be ready for picking as well. We don’t just grow fruit, we’ve a selection of vegetables as well including broad beans, French beans and sweetcorn.”

With the current heatwave likely to lead to water shortages, Primrose Vale is well equipped should supplies get low. Paul continued: “We’re very fortunate to have access to a large reservoir so we’ve got a healthy supply of water, which is a good job because we haven’t seen a drop of rain for a fair old while now!”

As well as offering customers the chance to purchase the freshest fruit and vegetables, Primrose Vale Farm Shop also stocks produce from several leading Gloucestershire suppliers, with organic meats, local cheeses and bread from nearby bakeries on offer. Paul continued: “It’s great to work alongside so many local suppliers. We sell a lot of our own produce in the shop but also a great mix of foods from some of Gloucestershire’s best suppliers.”