UK carrot growers are calling on retailers to adopt a more flexible usage model and leave a “lasting legacy” on the industry following this year's long, cold spring and hot, dry summer.
The British Carrot Growers Association urged more supermarkets to follow Asda’s lead by relaxing specifications on the vegetable and making sure the majority of the crop is used.
The organisation’s chairman Rodger Hobson said: “As the extreme temperatures of June and July give way to more normal temperatures, the effects of the past five months cannot be dismissed as a ‘flash in the pan’.
“There is no chance of a quick return to business as usual. The impact of the 2018 growing season will be felt for the next nine months. Volumes are significantly down, and production costs have escalated.
“For an industry where margins are notoriously slim, this represents a serious threat to grower incomes and longer-term viability.”
Carrot growers have welcomed efforts by Asda to prevent carrots from going to waste and specifications have been relaxed to improve crop utilisation. This approach had been applied to both wholehead and prepared carrots and has helped to ensure that the majority of this year's crop has made it to the shelf, regardless of size or shape.
Hobson added: “Working closely with major customers to make the most of the 2018 crop will enable growers to take their minds off whether or not a supermarket will buy their carrots and allow them to focus on getting out in the fields and delivering carrots for the UK consumer.
“Support from both retailers and customers is vital if UK growers are to survive the commercial difficulties caused by this summer.”
