The abysmal weather that Britain was subjected to this summer, has proved extremely beneficial to British blackcurrant growers, who experienced one of the most outstanding seasons in recent years.

The heavy rainfall throughout June and July encouraged healthy swelling of this year's blackcurrants and harvest figures are estimated at 13,000t for the British 2007 crop, says The Blackcurrant Foundation (BF).

Blackcurrants contain high levels of health-boosting antioxidants and there is much scientific evidence to link them with combating heart disease.

However it was only after extensive research was carried out by the Scottish Crop Research Institute earlier this year, that the blackcurrant was heralded the number one 'superfruit' when tested against other fruits such as blueberries, bananas and raspberries, for their disease fighting components and health benefits, claims BF.