The UK cucumber season is under way with producers battling high fuel prices but benefiting from the trend for local produce.
Paz Milazzo of UK Salads in the Lea Valley said: “We started about three weeks ago and there is a big emphasis on English this year. We have had a lot of enquiries with customers looking for home-grown cucumbers. I think it is because of the E. coli problems last year and people feel safer eating UK produce.”
At UK Salads plantings were a couple of weeks later than usual, but light levels throughout January were “reasonable” before the cold snap hit at the end of the month and in early February.
Milazzo said: “That cold snap pushed energy prices very high and the way the oil market is, has pushed gas prices up too. It is all related. We are looking at 15 per cent higher energy costs year on year. I hope it will settle down soon.”
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