Lavender ousts hop vines in Kent
17 August 2000
Lavender ousts hop vines in Kent
By FWi staff
FRAGRANT lavender is replacing hop vines in the fields of Kent as farmers seek to cash in on the popularity of aromatherapy, reports the Daily Mail.
With a slump in brewing, the growing interest in scented oils is providing producers with a ready market for lavender which can command a bulk price of 55 a kg.
It is estimated that by next year 2,000 acres of farmland will have switched to herbs, with just 1,700 devoted to hops.
The newspaper says experts predict that eventually 300,000 acres of prime agricultural land could be converted.
It is estimated that the British herbal market will be worth 100m a year within a decade.
See more