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UK Facing Christmas Sprout Drought

Wed, 08 Dec 2010
Britain could be left with a shortage of Brussels sprouts this Christmas if the freezing weather continues, farmers have warned.

Arctic-like conditions have left British-grown crops frozen solid and impossible to harvest by machine, and with the harsh winter weather expected to continue up to the festive season, growers believe the UK is facing the most serious sprout drought ever seen.

Chris Gedney, managing director of TH Clements and Son and one of the country's leading growers, said: "If the icy weather continues it's going to be very difficult for us to get our produce out."

"There's a big risk if the weather continues we will miss our window of opportunity for harvesting. Over the next week to 10 days, we will be very, very short."

Mr Gedney vowed that British producers would "plough on" to get the harvest out in time. "We've never been unable to deliver a Christmas yet but this will a very testing year if the weather continues as it is", he said.

"It wouldn’t be good for British agriculture and British producers if Holland were able to take advantage of the weather conditions. They will be looking to capture the market. It could be devastating for us."

The UK sprout industry is worth of £54 million a year and has seen steady growth over the past four years, according to market research firm Kantar Worldpanel.

Britons eat more than 40,000 tonnes of sprouts each year, with the busy Xmas season accounting for over 67 per cent of the annual consumption.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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