English onion sets to be sold for first time
English onion sets to be sold for first time
BRITAINS first-ever home-grown onion sets will be available for next season, boosting growers ability to provide full traceability.
In recent years sets have become popular and are now used for 35-40% of the UKs 9600ha (23,700 acre) crop.
Until now they have been sourced from Holland, but growers have experienced inconsistencies as quality varies from season to season.
East Anglian growers JE Dale and Engine Farm Ltd, part of Greens of Soham, have grown sets locally for their own use for several seasons. Now they have decided to make them available to other onion growers and formed the English Set Company.
"It is clear there is a worthwhile market for locally grown sets with full traceability," says the companys Mike Higson. "We are developing a certification scheme that we hope MAFF will take up and implement."
Initially only Sturon sets are being offered, other varieties will follow. This years 500t of production is already sold out. The price for the 14-17mm size grade is £525/t for 20t lots, and £423/t for 17-21mm sets.
SET PLUSSES
• More rapid establishment.
• More vigorous growth.
• Reduced risk from soil capping/wind blowing.
• Earlier harvest.
SET PLUSSES
• More rapid establishment.
• More vigorous growth.
• Reduced risk from soil capping/wind blowing.
• Earlier harvest.