Wiki(frozen) Leeks

Well we've actually stopped harvesting this morning… or to be more accurate, digging up and bringing inside, then defrosting in the “warm store” (a cold store normally – but anything running at 2 degrees feels warm today) .

The teams have been managing to cover sections each night in fleece – then undercut whole sections, lift with a fair amount of quality Flintshire mud still attached, then gently defrost inside & trim… but this morning, in -17 conditions they have to call a halt, while they wait for the sun to work its magic….

Freezing fog on top of 10 days in the “freezer” has now left the teams struggling this morning, but Charlie Lightbown (Farm Manager for us in North Wales) is confident that lifting won’t be delayed too much, and that his Really Welsh Leeks, orders for which have doubled in recent weeks, will be heading off to retailers very soon.

In Wales alone, where Charlie and his team exclusively supply Tesco with Really Welsh Leeks - “all other stores stock English Leeks” he notes – we’ve seen some record sales this week as brasicca growers across the UK struggle. “We know that sprouts hate the frost, Cauliflowers which we used to grow, but got fed up with the waste after hard winter after hard winter, and root crops such as carrots & parsnips, have all be in short supply this year” he adds…. “but leeks are very hardy, can withstand the very worst Welsh weather, and always seem to taste great after a frost – so these should be our best yet!”…. “frankly harvesting in really heavy rain is probably worse, and we end up with mud all over the crop, so if we can keep the harvesting teams going, and can get the leeks out of the soil, we will get them to you"…

Well done Charlie!

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