Tesco has confirmed its pumpkin orders for Halloween have been met and product is in stores and ready for sale.
The retail giant praised Lincolnshire pumpkin grower Oakley Farms, which supplies more than 1.5m of Tesco's pumpkins, for a crop that, despite the bad weather, is expected to be up 15 per cent on last year.
“Demand for pumpkins has grown by 60 per cent in the last six years,' said Natasha Beagley, Tesco's pumpkin buyer.
Beagely said that because of the widespread reports of a bad season for growers and possible limited supply, demand has been higher than usual for pumpkins this October.
Steve Whitworth, commercial director of Oakley Farms, added: “Our past experience has taught us how inclement the British summer can be and for that reason we have invested in industrial glasshouses so that, once harvested, we can keep our pumpkins in perfect condition until they get taken to store.'
Tesco is expected to produce up to 2m pumpkins this year and is the largest seller of the Halloween favourite in the UK.
This year's in-store prices start from £1 (€1.23) for a standard size, and rise to £3 (€3.68) for a giant pumpkin.
