It takes a lot of attention to detail to keep strawberry plants happy, a fact that Gary McCarthy, whose father Albert set up McCarthy’s farm in the mid-1970s, knows well. During peak production season watering patterns vary hugely, with six- or seven-day weeks being a regular occurrence during the summer.

That’s why Gary is glad that each stage of the process is supervised by members of his family – meaning that the fruits of their labours go out to Lidl customers in only peak condition.