Brussels sprout production this season is affected by the dry summer and autumn and growers are working hard to avoid a shortage situation, although the season could end early.
"The sprout trade is good, in the main because growers are down on tonnage," said Roger Welberry, president of the British Sprout Growers Association. "On average producers are down by two to three tonnes an acre so when you're talking about yields down from 8t to 5t, that is quite significant."
However, producers are managing their crops extremely well and making every effort to fulfil orders. "At this stage no customers are going short because we are going into the fields and picking hard to make sure we fill those orders," explained Welberry.
He reports that mid-season sprouts have "had all their growing" so knobs are being picked rather than left to bulk up for later in the season where necessary.
Rainfall of 1-1.5'' over the past week in the Boston area has been a tremendous boost to production. "The rainfall and the mild temperatures mean that the Christmas crops are looking really well and that should help to fill the knobs out," said Welberry. "There is time now over the next month or so if the weather stays mild and open to make good use of the rainfall and fill out the spouts. They won't be plentiful, but yields per acre will be better."
Growers have also had to contend with increased pest incidence this season and in particular peach-potato aphid has been causing problems for some producers. Spraying is not as effective in dry conditions as moisture is required to help pesticides eliminate aphids throughout the plant.
Although there is not expected to be any shortage in sprout availability, the season could end up to a month early in late January or early February because of growers' need to pick aggressively in the run up to Christmas. There is also a good range of sizes being picked so that each market segment is receiving its preferred specification: wholesalers taking large sprouts, multiples the mid-sizes and freezers the button sprouts.
Prices are a little stronger, however although not as high as producers would like given all the extra care that has been required this season in order to maintain supplies. "It would be really nice to get a decent price for Christmas for a change," concluded Welberry.
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