The British Carrot Growers Association has said that supplies of carrots and parsnips will be "tight but not short" throughout the winter as a result of the prolonged hot summer.

The association also pointed out "the considerable extra effort and cost involved in producing good crops this season". The association said in a statement that double the normal amount of irrigation has been required with some fields in Nottinghamshire and East Anglia needing 13 inches of irrigation to keep crops growing. The extra cost of water alone is £150 an acre with additional costs for scheduling and application.

"It is a tribute to the foresight of grower members who have invested in adequate water storage and irrigation application equipment to guarantee product supply and achieve high yielding crops in an exceptional year when all crops have demanded maximum irrigation," the association said.

Supplies of parsnip are likely to be most adversely affected by the summer drought and there are no alternative supplies in the rest of the EU. However, BCGA members are confident that supplies for the Christmas market will be adequate.

Topics