Pea farmers across the Peterborough area are putting together an action plan in a bid to protect future havests from poor weather.
The moves comes after downpours since April have effectively washed out this year’s crop, but industry leaders say lessons will be learned for the future.
The unprecedented combination of unseasonably high rainfall and minimal sunshine in the key growing months of May, June and July proved insurmountable this season with tracked harvest machines struggling to cope with swamp-like fields.
The summer washout means pea growers have yielded only 55 per cent of the expected harvest.
James Hallett, chief executive of the British Growers Association, said: “Growers up and down the country have worked round the clock, battling against soaking, cold and dark weather conditions, to harvest the high quality, nutritious peas loved by so many British families.
“Shoppers normally enjoy 150 million kilos of frozen peas every year worth over £200 million at retail prices and more than 90 per cent of these are grown in the UK.
“Now that the harvest is complete in England, and nearing completion in Scotland, it is clear that this great British product will be in short supply until new season crop arrives next summer.
“Growers have invested millions in sophisticated planting and harvest technology and equipment to deliver a great product.
“Lessons will be learned to make 2013 a much better year.”
Comments