Pea-ce of mind for British farmers as Princes vow to buy home-grown produce

A COMPANY which processes millions of garden peas from its canning site in the Fens has confirmed its support for British growers.

Food and drink group Princes has reaffirmed its commitment to buy local produce as the county’s pea growers face reduced crop yields due to poor weather conditions.

Princes processes more than 48 million cans of British-grown garden peas every year from farms close to its canning site in Long Sutton.

Stephen Francis, director of Fen Peas, said: “Our growers are deeply concerned about the effect that the weather has had on this year’s crops and the associated impact on their businesses.

“Princes has pledged its long-term support for buying locally-grown produce and the presence of a stable and committed purchaser is a huge reassurance to producers in our area.”

Princes bought two sites from Premier Foods more than a year ago.

The sites produce a range of canned peas – garden, marrowfat and mushy – under Farrows, Batchelors and other brands.

Princes also buys potatoes and carrots from local farms and is now the UK’s largest manufacturer of canned British-grown vegetables, purchasing over 40,000 tonnes a year from domestic growers.