With Christmas fast approaching and the traditional dinner being planned, one of the nation’s favourite vegetables faces a race against time to grace this yearê¼s plate.
Sprouts supplies have become increasingly strained over the past year with some retailers already turning to emergency Dutch crops to satisfy demand.
Chris Gedney managing director of Boston-based grower TH Clements, said planting conditions were “exceptionally good” this year with the crop sown throughout May but problems started to arise once the exceptionally dry weather of July and August arrived in the key period when sprouts put on most of their weight.
Gedney said: “We had planted extra acreage for the season to ensure no shortages, however we are now forecasting to have just enough at best.”
Sprout availability has been further hampered this week with freezing temperatures embracing the country, causing frost damage to the exposed crops.
MET office predictions covering the 9-21 December - the key Christmas harvesting period - forecast freezing temperatures throughout the planted areas.
Gedney added: “We have put contingency plans in place and are preparing to harvest throughout the night to ensure the sprouts reach our customers.
“We are adding fleece to a large proportion of the more susceptible crop in the lead up to Christmas in order to keep both the sprouts and ground a little warmer.”
The UK sprout industry has a retail value of £54 million a year and has seen steady growth over the past four years according to Kantar Wolrdpanel data, bucking the trend seen throughout other brassica produce.
More than 40,000 tonnes are consumed throughout the UK with the busy festive period accounting for over 67 per cent of the annual tonnage.
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