UK carrot growers are looking forward to a more promising season than last year. Crop establishment was good, says John Birkenshaw, secretary of the British Carrot Growers’ Association (BCGA), with plenty of moisture for germination. “Crops under polythene are running slightly late, however harvesting has started in Suffolk, Nottinghamshire, northern England and in Scotland. Expected yields will be average and there are no reports of crop damage from carrot fly.”
Cornish Chantenay carrots have been ready for harvesting since June 1 and according to Fresh Growers’ Martin Evans, (also vice chairman of the BCGA), these are the earliest new season carrots to be harvested in 2004. “UK Chantenay carrots will now have been supplied for the second season in a row achieving a continuous supply of UK carrots of 32 months which is a unique achievement,” he says.
The use of crop covers has contributed greatly to growers’ ability to harvest produce earlier than normal. Results from a recent Defra-run survey reveal that 20 per cent of carrot production is covered by polythene in order to advance crops for June lifting. (It was previously thought that the figure was just five to 10 per cent.) “A survey was carried out because of the concerns about polythene as agricultural waste,” says Birkenshaw. “Regulations are changing for agricultural waste and polythene can be expensive. Growers would like to recycle, but the product becomes contaminated very easily and does not recycle well because the soil clogs up the machinery on conversion. It is possible that machines can be used to recycle the covers cost effectively, however it is an expensive disposal job and yet another cost that growers must bear.”
All Scottish carrots have been cleared and harvesting completed at Tompsett Burgess Growers. “We are now looking to start on English bunched carrots which will hit the marketplace on June 10, and the multiples on June 14 after the weekend lifting of June 12-14,” says managing director Clem Tompsett. “We will be working right through the night in order to supply the supermarkets for when they open on Monday morning. We do want to be able to compete with the French produce that is now available, but we do not want to oversupply the market. Our aim to balance the supplies out.”
Packout rates have been good for Tompsett Burgess this season and of its 2,000 acres, 350 are covered in order to bring the crop on early. “We anticipate this will be increased to 700 acres for winter production which will then be covered by black polythene and straw to protect carrots from sunlight and frost,” he says.
In order to increase shelf-life UK carrot growers are continually experimenting with different storage techniques. “It is a difficult situation to be in if you have shelf-life difficulties and poor quality,” says Evans, “and in that case you need to look at better varieties. We are also conscious that preparation techniques in factories also need to be improved.”
UK carrot growers are passionate about their produce, says Evans. “There is a tremendous history in the UK carrot industry and admittedly great rivalry, but through the BCGA we do work together to achieve our goals. One instance of this is the trial events days we hold. The next one will be on October 5 to discuss the issue of chemical use in light of the forthcoming EU review in 2007 when we expect a number of products to be withdrawn.”
Last season was very hard for carrot growers, Evans continues. Additional costs were incurred because of the need for irrigation - which bumped up the cost of production. To compound the matter sales were stagnant. “Last August, September and October were all very warm,” says Evans. “Those months are critical for carrot growers so we had a huge increase in water costs and labour. With irrigation systems you often have to be up early and often don’t finish until late.
“The effects of last summer left everyone quite weary and in addition, we also had poor prices. The weather was non-eventful in the winter - and that just pushed people away from eating carrots. If temperatures are warm, consumers simply do not buy carrots. We need harsh weather to put the sparkle back into carrot consumption.”
Eating habits have played a part in changing consumption patterns, and, says Evans, the UK is fast becoming a nation of snackers. “UK consumers are very discerning and when it comes to trying new things they are not always adventurous. I really think we need to address the issue of how growers can look at new ideas and to get people on board to discuss how we can move forward in the market.”
Fresh Growers’ Chantenay has been marketed by Waitrose as a roasting carrot for the last eight months and sales are gaining momentum. “It is a versatile product which can also be put on the barbecue in the summer months,” says Evans. “There is just a small land base down in Cornwall but it works very well for Chantenay. I think what the growers have achieved is wonderful.”
Carrots are a product which lend themselves to a variety of guises. In 2003 Tompsett Burgess Growers trialed the production of a purple carrot on five hectares. “The carrots were good when they were green,” says Tompsett, “but under the polythene and straw they did not keep very well. When we lifted them in autumn we found that too many were rotten.”
The purple carrot trialed in 2003 was an American Texas seed variety which, along with Sainsbury’s, the company had exclusive use of. Undaunted by the previous outcome, this year it is trialing a hybrid carrot, Purple Haze, using a traditional seed.
Watton Produce has 5,000 acres of production and its growers produce fresh bunched carrots in the UK and France. It also processes cut and peeled carrots in its Norfolk factory. The company produces a wide range of carrots including fresh, bunched and oversized Imperator carrots grown in the UK, France and Spain specifically bred for the prepared range because of their texture and flavour. In comparison with the traditional variety Nantes, the Imperator is a bright orange/red colour with a small core that ensures the carrot remains whole when processed into batons, sliced, cut or peeled.
Watton Produce has also experienced success with snack-pack carrot crunchies - a market that is growing 20-30 per cent annually. The company spent three years selecting varieties with a sweet taste and core for its baby, mini and maxi carrots. These speciality products are cut to uniform lengths before they are peeled and polished into shape. The process is carried out throughout the year in modern, temperature-controlled conditions. Once picked, the carrots are quickly hydro-cooled in order to provide a minimum seven-day shelf-life.”
The challenges of increasing consumption are definitely there to be overcome and the real trick, says Evans is to respond to market needs. “We have got the 5-a-day initiative which is promoting fruit and veg, and every magazine out there is telling the public to eat healthier foods - the nutritional qualities of carrots are well documented.”
Evans maintains that in order to fully meet the needs of the market, carrot products must be further developed. “We do 70,000 tonnes of ordinary carrots and 20,000t of Chantenay he says, “and these have gone down tremendously well. We went back to basics in terms of quality and flavour and have gone down the route of developing breeding programmes with a view to making a better product that increases in popularity year after year. It was difficult in the beginning with Chantenay because consumers were reluctant to buy it.
“To a large extent we still shop with our eyes and so persuading customers to buy the packs in the first place was an uphill struggle. Once we got over that initial hurdle then repeat purchase soared. We have now developed a loyal and continuous consumer base and have found that Chantenay has also attracted non-carrot consumers such as kids. They love it because of its novelty aspect and the fact that it tastes great. UK retailers have really got behind the product and we have been looking to see if there are any other ways we can snack it.”
Compared to the US, the UK has stalled when it comes to convenience food, Evans concludes. “There is a three per cent standard downturn in carrot consumption on loose sales although this is not representative of the carrot sector as a whole. But we must not forget the carrots are competing with fast food and that meal trends have changed. We need to offer a product that is convenient and healthy. We should be putting carrots into salad and vegetable mixes because it is a fantastic product but we are not marketing it as we should. It might be difficult but it is not unachievable.”
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