The new season carrot harvest has started in parts of England and despite a wet spring which delayed planting, the crop is looking good.
"Norfolk and Suffolk have already started, here in Yorkshire we are about two weeks away," said Rodger Hobson, carrot grower and Chairman of the British Carrot Growers Association. "I am hearing that quality is good and yields are normal. There is always a good demand for fresh, new season carrots."
The UK normally has a year-round supply of home-grown carrots but this year stocks ran out early and imports from Israel, Spain, France were necessary, with some people importing from as far away as China!
"The wet spring which delayed planting means we will not have a bumper crop, but if we get typical English summer, a bit of sunshine and bit of rain then we can expect a normal season. It is all still to play for, the weather is very unpredictable and anything can happen. I don't think there will be many carrots exported this year."
There is an ongoing debate around the low prices of fruit and vegetables at the retailers, but according to Rodger, these prices are not always what the grower gets. "Carrots are not an expensive item, even now with a kilo retailing at around 70p, it works out at £0.06 for a portion, you can eat carrots for three months for the price of a McDonald's. Fresh, healthy produce should be affordable."
The British Carrot Grower's Association is launching a new initiative this to promote British carrots, the 3rd of October will be the first National Carrot Day.
For more information:
Rodger Hobson
British Carrot Grower's Association
[email protected]