Chipiona Produce strengthens UK import/export links Norfolk based Watton Produce, already one of the largest UK carrot and parsnip growers, is spreading its wings through joint partnership with Covent Garden based Spanish importing company Briess & Co. The new company, Chipiona Produce, has plantations and a new joint-funded £500,000 packhouse near Cadiz. It will supply conventionally grown as well as organic bunched carrots, beetroot, parsnips, and turnips for the multiples with crops from December to June. This season importers are having to pay double for carrots from Spain (up to 140 pesetas/kg) to make up a UK shortfall. But Gerry Costa, director of Chipiona Produce, said: "We have had no problems with supplies as they have all been grown to programmes. This year we will source over 3,500 tonnes of all crops." He also revealed there are plans to set up an identical growing/packing operation in France within the next five years. France supplies Watton Produce in the period between the Spanish carrot crop finishing in May and June and its own English production getting under way. More recently it has been growing the Imperator carrot variety for Watton Produce specifically for the fresh prepared snack market. Next month its own £500,000 packhouse extension in Norfolk designed to handle an increasing range of fresh snack packs and prepared bulk catering packs will be in operation. Katy Negus, marketing manager, prepared produce, said the snack packs had already been accepted by several UK supermarkets. "We are also packing own label products for three French multiples," she added. "Our European strategy will allow us to develop these customers and also reduce distribution costs across the Channel." Meanwhile in Scotland Watton Produce has totally acquired Moray Coast Produce with which it was in 50/50 partnership since 1998. MCP grows some 800 acres of carrots and processes and packs at Forres. It also has a considerable tonnage of organics on the same site handled by Tio. It will continue to work with Moray Coast Growers, for which it also sells, on crop growing, land usage and support systems. {{M/E FRESH PRODUCE }}

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