Producers in Guernsey are branching into alternative crops, according to a new report from the Guernsey Growers’ Association.
Instead of tomatoes and flowers, one grower, Mark Seabrook and wife Sue, are producing decorative foliage in the form of ivy for corporate celebrity, social and wedding events in the UK. Un-rooted cuttings are also supplied and 10 different varieties of Hedera are grown.
Seabrook says it annoys him when people say that the horticultural industry is “dead”. He accepts that it has slimmed down, but there are still specialised units that are proving successful and will hopefully continue to be so. He continues looking for new opportunities for sales as he realises he must never take things for granted.
President of the association, Alan Dorey, admits that overall the year has been a challenging one due to climatic conditions and fuel costs. The report suggests that fewer crops of tomatoes and cucumbers will be grown locally. The cut flower section has radically reduced. For example, there is now only one spray carnation exporter and one rose exporter.
“There are now no new flower growers coming into the industry willing to put in the hard work, dedication and long-term financial commitment required to be a successful flower grower in Guernsey,” says the report.
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