The British Carrot Growers Association (BCGA) estimates this season’s carrot yields could be between 15% and 30% below expectations. Some crops have been particularly badly affected in areas where irrigation water has been restricted or supplies have run out.
The problems began during heatwaves in May and June, when unusually high temperatures affected crops at the crucial germination stage. Newly germinated carrots were killed in some fields, leaving growers with little choice but to sow them again.
Re-drilling brings additional costs for seed, labour, machinery and fuel. Because the replacement crops were planted later than originally planned, they are also unlikely to reach their anticipated yields.
Further periods of extreme heat and prolonged dry weather increased the pressure. Growers have had to irrigate their fields more frequently than usual to protect both the size and quality of the crop. This has led to substantially higher bills for water, diesel, labour and equipment.
Rodger Hobson, Chair of the British Carrot Growers Association, described it as an extraordinarily difficult season for many producers.
He told That's Food and Drink: “We estimate carrot yields will be down by between 15% and 30%. The real concern is that growers have spent considerably more money producing considerably less crop.”
The challenges are not limited to carrots. Some British parsnip growers are reportedly expecting yields to be between 25% and 60% below forecasts, although the severity of the losses varies according to soil type and location.
The BCGA is calling for greater recognition from retailers and the wider supply chain of the exceptional costs faced by growers. British vegetable producers frequently operate on narrow margins, making it difficult for them to absorb the combined effects of reduced harvests and rising production expenses.
Although some farms and individual fields have performed better than others, the overall picture remains challenging.
The warning does not necessarily mean that carrots will disappear from supermarket shelves. However, it highlights the increasingly difficult conditions under which familiar British vegetables are being produced.
Carrots are an affordable and versatile staple in many households, used in everything from Sunday roasts and stews to soups, salads and cakes. Maintaining a sustainable domestic growing sector will require a fair balance between reasonable prices for shoppers and adequate returns for the farmers responsible for putting British produce on our tables.
