Time to Sprout it's Christmassss...!
Date Added: 21/12/2022
With the big day just around the corner and the unopened doors on advent calendars dwindling, here at T H Clements after months of planning and preparation the Christmas rush is well underway with our harvesting and factory teams working around the clock to endeavour Christmas is delivered.
Our hardy harvesting heroes have been working day and night in challenging weather conditions, with man and machine pushed to the limits, battling through thick fog and hard frosts with temperatures as low as -7c.
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In addition, our packhouse elves have also been working 24/7 ensuring fresh Brussels Sprouts are graded, packed and ready to hit the Christmas dinner plates along with other delicious Lincolnshire grown vegetables.
This years Sprouts have experienced polar-opposite and unfavourable growing conditions, with a 40.3c heatwave and lengthy drought during their growth time to -7c frost whilst being harvested. These extreme weather conditions have led to lighter yields and shorter stalks, and smaller sprouts.
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Normal supermarket specification is between 18mm and 40mm and this year they will be at the smaller end of that. Don’t worry though, historically ‘baby’ Sprouts were sold as a premium product due to their sweeter flavour, so if you’re a Sprout lover just pile more on your Christmas Dinner plate this year!
Click here to watch T H Clements Sprout Story - Seed to Shelf to see the 10 month journey our Brussels Sprouts take to make it on to your plates each and every Christmas.
We’d also like to thank all the drivers in the distribution chain working right up to Christmas eve making sure your Sprouts arrive. Unlike Santa, our lovely presents (fresh vegetables) are delivered to depots not by sleigh pulled by Reindeer, but by lorries being driven across the length and breadth of the UK.
Brussels Sprouts are an integral part of the Christmas dinner with 38% of British adults rating them above other traditional components such as Parsnips, stuffing, carrots etc...
Not only are Brussels Sprouts popular at Christmas, other products we lovingly grow which are Christmas favourites include - Cauliflower, Red Cabbage and Potatoes – which are also a fundamental part of the festive dinner plates.
Christmas Dinner is usually a time for people to push the boat out and enjoy an indulgent feast, opting for rich and decadent Cauliflower cheese, vibrant braised Red Cabbage, crispy Roast Potatoes and/or creamy Mash Potatoes. Many of the above may taste and look indulgent but can be easily homemade plus some can even be cooked in air fryers or slow cookers too, so can suit any household food and energy budget.
With Christmas Day falling on the weekend this year, hopefully you will have chance for a relaxing Boxing Day. If you are planning to curl up on the sofa with a glass of wine and a good book or movie, why not enjoy some refreshing and healthy finger foods to snack on such as crunchy raw cauliflower florets with your favourite dip. Perfect guilt free snacks after the festive indulgences.
On Saturday 17th December we treated all our staff to a festive feast - Pizza, Fish & Chips and warm Mince Pies to say a big thank you and to show our appreciation for all their hard work and dedication throughout the year but especially through this extremely busy Christmas time with added weather challenges, of which we’ve seen a few this year already!
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Many take a quiet moment during Christmas and New Year to reflect on the past year and 2022 has definitely been another unprecedented and challenging year in growing Brassicas.
So whilst you’re tucking into your Christmas dinner, spare a thought for all our hardworking staff who have worked long hours and endured testing weather conditions to ensure there is an abundance of fresh Lincolnshire grown produce for all to enjoy this festive season.
Finally, we’d like to take a moment to say a big thank you to all our hardworking staff for delivering an abundance of sought-after favourite festive vegetables and ensuring Christmas dinner plates are pilled high with fresh produce.
Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you and your families from all at T H Clements & Son.
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