The vegetable industry has seen a tough trading period over the last 12 months, with weather conditions encouraging a general oversupply collectively across the country and demand heading towards lighter, summer options such as salad and fruit.
Figures from Kanar Worldpanel show a fall in volume of 2.3 per cent, which equates to a decline of 84,900 tonnes of wholehead vegetables on the retail marketplace to 3.5 million tonnes, year on year.
However, value is up owing to an increase in average price over the last 52 weeks, with £91.2m more spent on veg, bringing the sector’s financial worth up to £4.87 billion. “Core lines are reducing in volume year on year,” says chair of British Brassica Growers’ Association (BGA) and cabbage and Brussels sprout grower Matthew Rawson.
“If we don’t do anything to make sure these lines are appreciated there will be a further drop. We have to address the situation of demand. The BGA is hopeful ahead of a possible three-year campaign to educate consumers on the brassicas available.”
Rawson says that the industry has also suffered because there hasn’t been any hard damage to crops this year. “There has been an oversupply, which has been challenging, but as a result new business has been found and we have been exporting Brussels sprouts, for one, to the Netherlands in particular in January through to early February.
“It sounds awful, but the weather has mostly been on our side and so demand for heartier veg has declined. The cauliflower industry has had it quite bad and volumes have differed, as like with a cabbage, the crop can’t sit in a field, it bolts and is a bit of a risk.”
Over in the roots’ field, the English carrot industry has seen a shortage of crop and has been exporting to Germany and Ireland because of problems in Scottish production. But the value in carrots doesn’t seem to echo the general vegetable sector results for the last 52 weeks.
“The value of carrots has not gone up,” says one insider. “In fact we usually experience a increase in value after Christmas time, but it didn’t happen.”
The carrot crop’s new season, which starts around June, will begin on time, if not earlier, according to sources, leaving a two- to three-week gap available for exports because of the Scottish shortage.
“The prices of promotions have been low and the supermarkets are all fighting each other and rebranding,” says the carrot supplier. “They may be getting rid of the value lines but this means there will be more cost on the other products.
“A lot of the time, I don’t think promotions have much of a benefit, but it’s not always the supermarket’s fault and they can’t always be blamed for the downward spiral in price. Growers still offer a bulk of crop onto the market when there’s an oversupply.”
More than most of the fruit and vegetable sectors, wholehead vegetables contain many high-value specialist products that have managed to maintain a premium in the current market, such as asparagus, Chantenay carrots, Tenderstem broccoli, baby sweetcorn and butternut squash.
And more than ever, this could be the year for these affordable treats if a summer of picnic weather collides with the Queen’s Jubilee and the London Olympic Games celebrations.
Asparagus is starting earlier than ever each year and 2012 saw a first for the country with outdoor, open-field spears being harvested in Cornwall a month ahead of the normal season by Southern England Farms. As managing director Greville Richards has indicated, if demand from the retailers continues, this could be the start of a new dawn for the product, with crop being available a full month extra to the normal season. It remains to be seen what effect this could have on returns and the premium.
“We’re looking forward to the asparagus season,” says one supplier. “It always brings in the money.”-
BUILDING ASSOCIATIONS
As Hobson Farming’s Rodger Hobson moves into the hot seat as the British Carrot Growers’ Association’s (BCGA)new chairman, he talks to Elizabeth O’Keefe about filling some big shoes and his social media ambition
As the BCGA chairman, how would you like to see the British carrot industry evolve and expand?
I have confidence that the industry will maintain its position by supplying the nation’s favourite vegetable. We have a great industry in the UK and carrots are virtually all home grown, top quality, grown year round.
As the new chairman, I will be meeting with some of the UK’s largest carrot producers over the next few months to form a comprehensive picture of the direction that BCGA members would like to see the industry moving in.
What are your main aims for the role this year?
I will continue the good job done by [Freshgro’s] Martin Evans and we look forward to another successful carrot trials day. I look forward to making positive steps to try to improve the market for myself and my peers.
Why are you the right person for the job?
I have been growing carrots for more than 20 years on Naburn Hill Farm where my father, grandfather and great-grandfather farmed before me. It is an honour to be asked to be chairman and a role which I intend to take on with gusto. I have been involved in the carrot industry for a very long time and it is in my blood. I hope to bring energy and enthusiasm to the role.
What are the main problems facing the carrot industry?
There’s always an economic pressure and differing weather conditions are an endless worry, but we seem to be coping with both. At the moment, the drought is obviously a huge concern for the UK carrot industry, particularly eastern England. Fortunately the country’s carrot growers are all planning ahead and managing their irrigation regimes according to the national protocols, thereby maximising water efficiency.
How was the last growing season and what are your predictions ahead of the new season?
We’ve had a much kinder winter than 2010/11. With milder temperatures the crop has stood the weather in much better condition. I have been out sampling carrots with a valued customer this morning and we’ve never known the carrots taste so sweet at this time of year. They are excellent.
What have the highlights of your career been so far?
I am not sure, as it’s been so varied. I studied engineering at Oxford University and after working in management consultancy in London for some years, I moved home to the family farm near York to help my father about 20 years ago. This was never supposed to be permanent but I enjoyed the change so much that it became so.
We mainly grow Nairobi carrots and produce more than 26,000 tonnes from 800 acres, as well as running an arable farming enterprise with crops including wheat, barley, rape, turf, potatoes and red beet. Obviously I enjoy farming and, in particular, carrot production.
What’s your one ambition for the British carrot industry?
Carrots can play a bigger and bigger role in the country’s progression towards a healthier diet. This year we’re going to take a tongue-in-cheek foray into social media with The Carrot Whistle Olympics. -
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