On Thursday, 3 October, British carrot growers will unite for the inaugural UK National Carrot Day, urging the nation to support home-grown carrots and safeguard their future in the face of mounting climate challenges and shifting market conditions.
Leading the charge is Rodger Hobson, Chair of the British Carrot Growers Association (BCGA) and an eighth-generation farmer from York. Alongside five of the UK’s top carrot growers – Huntapac Produce, Kettle Produce, M.H Poskitts, Burgess Farms, and Strawson Ltd – Hobson hopes to raise awareness of the skill, resilience, and sustainability efforts behind every British-grown carrot. The campaign encourages consumers to get creative in the kitchen and make carrots a staple in their meals, while emphasising the importance of supporting local farmers.
In 2023, extreme weather conditions – record heat followed by excessive rain – led to the worst year Hobson has ever experienced for carrot production. “We’ve traditionally been 97% self-sufficient in carrots,” he explains, “but last year’s weather brought in a flood of imports from countries as far away as China and Israel.”
Hobson, along with his fellow carrot grower and sponsor of National Carrot Day, Guy Poskitt, emphasises the importance of consumers looking for the Red Tractor logo as an indicator of British-grown produce. “Buying British carrots not only supports local farmers, but also reduces the carbon footprint compared to importing from abroad,” adds Hobson. With environmental sustainability top of mind, Hobson rotates his fields, planting carrots only once every ten years to maintain soil health.
Poskitt, who grows 50,000 tons (packed weight) of carrots annually, echoes the concern over undervaluing fresh produce. “Last Christmas, we saw supermarkets slash the price of veg to as little as 15p per packet. While the discount was subsidised by retailers, it can increase food waste, as customers may buy more than they can consume.
3 October will also see the annual BCGA demonstration day, which brings together carrot growers, industry professionals and retailers to network, knowledge-share and celebrate the best in carrot cultivation via variety trials, trade stands and competitions. This year, the event will be hosted by Bil Bradshaw, B H Bradshaw & Son, and Strawson Ltd at Cockett Barn Farm in Nottinghamshire.
For more information about National Carrot Day and the BCGA Carrot Demonstration Day, visit the British Carrot Growers Association website: http://britishcarrots.co.uk
