Tag Archives: Kent

Mixed season for Kentish growers

It has been a very mixed season for growers in the Garden of England, with topfruit and berry produces reporting a vintage year while vegetables, particularly salads and potatoes, have suffered.

Protected soft fruit had somewhat reduced yields due to the hot summer, but quality was good, while apple crops have widely been reported as being amongst the sweetest and juiciest crops seen in years, while volumes have also been higher than last year.

Like other parts of the UK, root crop yields have been down and potato growers are reporting quality issues as harvesting in the UK draws to a close. One producer said they were seeing, “sprouting and secondary growth, all down to the heat this summer.”

Despite the costs of irrigation, asparagus and squash growers have reported good crops, while salad growers have struggled to meet high demand for their crops all summer due to the hot weather conditions.

Photo Caption: Topfruit has been one of the successful crops this year in Kent

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Fruit stolen from Kent growers

Police investigating a series of fruit thefts in Kent worth around a total of £6,000 have said that the incidents ‘may be linked.’

Fresh produce including strawberries and cherries have been stolen from growers in the Sittingbourne and Faversham areas. Three thefts were reported near Church Road, Tonge, between the 18 and 26 July, where around £1,600 worth of fruit was stolen. In addition, around £2,400 worth of soft fruit was stolen from land near Faversham, between 7 July and 22 July.

Kent Police are also investigating whether a reported fruit theft worth £2,000, between 26 and 27 July near Yalding, is connected. Investigating officer, PC Marc Pennicott, said, “These thefts are all very similar so we believe they may be linked and I would encourage anyone with information to get in touch.”

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