UK | Tesco is helping UK winter vegetable growers grapple with the aftermath of recent storms and flooding. The supermarket is temporarily accepting slightly smaller sprouts, cauliflowers, cabbages, and leeks to support farmers affected by the adverse weather conditions, allowing them to avoid selling at reduced prices in the open market.
Despite the challenges posed by heavy rainfall and poor growing conditions, these winter vegetables may be smaller than usual but are promised to maintain their exceptional taste. Tesco's initiative ensures that farmers can still supply a significant portion of their crop, mitigating the risk of shortages and helping the supermarket maintain British produce on its shelves.
The impact of flooding has been particularly severe in regions such as Lincolnshire, East Anglia, Cornwall, and Scotland—Tesco's Fresh Produce. Horticulture Director Tom Mackintosh expressed the company's commitment to supporting the fresh produce industry and assisting growers facing challenging harvesting conditions.
To address issues with sprouts, especially their size and growth underwater due to flooding, Tesco collaborated with growers to devise an innovative drying method. This involved using cool air blowers to remove excess water from the sprouts stored in pallets.
East Midlands, especially Lincolnshire, has experienced significant challenges since the storms began in October. Major winter vegetable grower TH Clements reported a 20 percent loss in total winter crops, including sprouts, cabbages, cauliflower, and leeks. Tesco's flexibility in accepting slightly smaller vegetables has allowed growers like TH Clements to optimise product availability, reassuring shoppers amid challenging times for the agricultural sector.
