The UK carrot sector is heading for a bumper season, according to the British Carrot Growers Association.
Clem Tompsett, chairman, said: “Yields have already been astronomical. If dry autumn weather continues, maintaining a level of lifting that for larger producers can be as much as 400 tonnes a day, we could be in surplus.”
UK production could surpass 600,000 tonnes, he said, representing a market value of over £160m.
Meanwhile, Watton Produce has starting supplying carrots under the government’s £77m school fruit and vegetable scheme. Katy Negus, sales and marketing director, said many children had been introduced to carrots for the first time through the scheme.