British sprouts growers are well on top of their crops following four to five weeks of dry weather in September.

The dry spell did not help sprouts bulk up, but quality is running very high and demanding is strong. The harvest started on September 1, in line with a normal year, but quality in 2002 is exceptional.

'The quality is the best we have seen for many years,' said British Sprout Growers' Association chairman Roger Welberry. 'And the rain we are having now is putting weight on the later varieties.' High winds at the weekend took their toll on some crops however causing plants to lodge or lean over.

'It means we can't harvest them mechanically and are having to chop by hand and feed them through the machine separately,' explained Welberry.

This has affected mid-season varieties grown on good silt land particularly where plants grow highest. The later shorter varieties have been less badly hit.

Production is spread throughout the UK, but key growing areas are Lincolnshire and the Cotswolds where several thousand acres are under production.

The season is expected to run for seven months until at least the end of March.

The Cotswolds plays host to the Sprout Festival next week. It will be launched in Chipping Campden on November 7 with a presentation to 130 media representatives, which will focus on the healthy properties of sprouts as well as their culinary versatility.

Scientists will also reveal recent findings about the role sprouts can play in the battle against cancer. The festival continues over the weekend with local restaurants in the gastro-capital of the region featuring sprouts a range of dishes and donating a percentage of takings to Cancer Research UK. The event is also being sponsored by seed developer Syngenta.

A new logo and sweatshirts featuring it have been prepared specially for the festival as British sprout growers continue to raise their media and consumer profile.

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