Sprout growers have warned that "every British sprout will be needed" as Christmas approaches.
Roger Welberry, president of the British Sprout Growers' Association, said a shortage was not expected and the quality of the crop looked excellent this year.
But in Lincolnshire, one of the major production areas, bad weather had flattened stalks, making mechanical harvesting more difficult. There has also been an early surge in consumer demand.
Welberry was opening the first four-day Sprout Festival at Chipping Campden in another traditional centre of production, around Evesham, where conditions had been better, according to grower William Haines. The industry as a whole is looking for a cold, dry spell to bring the crop to perfection.
In the longer term, however, Welberry said growers had to fight the myth that sprouts tasted bitter, as well as negative media attention.
{{MARKET EDGE }}
Roger Welberry, president of the British Sprout Growers' Association, said a shortage was not expected and the quality of the crop looked excellent this year.
But in Lincolnshire, one of the major production areas, bad weather had flattened stalks, making mechanical harvesting more difficult. There has also been an early surge in consumer demand.
Welberry was opening the first four-day Sprout Festival at Chipping Campden in another traditional centre of production, around Evesham, where conditions had been better, according to grower William Haines. The industry as a whole is looking for a cold, dry spell to bring the crop to perfection.
In the longer term, however, Welberry said growers had to fight the myth that sprouts tasted bitter, as well as negative media attention.
{{MARKET EDGE }}
No comments yet