The asparagus harvest has started in the Wye Valley, although it is around a week behind last year, the timing is compatible with a normal year.
“The volumes are limited at the moment with production coming from the tunnels,” said Chris Chinn from Cobrey Farms. “Open field production traditionally starts on St George’s Day, 23rd April and runs through to Mid-Summer’s Day on the 21st of June.”
“Asparagus volumes are very hard to predict, but they should be better than last year when we had a very warm spring which made for a hard end to the season, this winter was also better than last year. We don’t expect a bumper crop, but it should be ok.”
The timing of the opening up of the food sector in England will not be that favourable for asparagus growers as it will not be properly open until the season is ending. Food can be served outdoors from 12th April, but indoor service will not be allowed until 17th May and complete dropping of restrictions is not planned to happen before 21st of June.
“Missing Easter will not be such a big blow for us, but we will miss the chefs getting involved at the start of the main season as they create good awareness for asparagus. We will be reliant on retail sales, which have seen an increase of 10%. The retailers are doing a lot less instore promotions as most are being done online to keep the number of people in the stores limited. Asparagus is a product which usually does very well with instore promotions and multi-buys. That said we are we are in a better place than this time last year and demand is reasonable.”
As for the whole sector the labour issue is still a worry. There are lots of little hurdles that keep appearing. Covid travel restrictions and Brexit being the main ones.
“The Seasonal Workers Scheme has been a lifesaver and crops won’t rot in the fields, but it is a costly scheme and workers can get jobs in Europe much more easily. We did have 200 British workers last season, some of whom have stayed on and are in management positions, but it is a different kind of workforce and the whole situation and sentiment is different this year.”
Chris said they are looking at automation for harvesting asparagus and strawberries, but it is a way off yet.
For more information:
Chris Chinn
Cobrey Farms
Tel: +44 1989 562 770
Email: chris@cobrey.co.uk
www.cobrey.co.uk