Carrot chronicles: a harvest update directly from the fields

Update 5 December 2023

Poland’s strong winter is limiting fields activities in last 10 days, as fields are locked by frost and cover by the snow. North east part of Poland has seen 40 cm of snowfall in one night, while in other parts there is about 5-10 cm. Some large carrot regions have snow layer of 3 cm only, but paired with cold wind which stimulates freezing . Tomaszów /Lublin area are covered by about 10 cm of snow with day temperature of  -2 to -3*C , and at night going to -8*C, while some spot places have gone to even -13*C. Forecast is ‘promising’ softer conditions from 09 December, thus we hope this will allow farmers to restart the harvest. Approximately 30 % of expected carrot volume is still in the ground. Nevertheless, production for our customers is continuing at full speed with the buffer raw material harvested earlier.

Carrot chronicles: a harvest update directly from the fields
With the carrot harvest season currently in full flow, we’re excited to share some insights into the current status of our crops. Similarly to last year, the yield is looking good, and the forecast is promising – so join us as we delve into the details of this year’s harvest!

A harvest ‘well on track’
This year’s carrot harvest is running smoothly with good results both in terms of quality and quantity, and our yields per hectare are actually slightly exceeding the set target levels. This means we’ll have a surplus volume to process, which is excellent news for our customers as it ensures a steady supply of top-notch carrot purees and juices for their food and beverage products.

One of the reasons for this? Mother Nature has been kind to us. The weather has been relatively warm throughout the growing season, with intermittent rain – and this clement weather has also extended into the autumn, allowing us to harvest without significant challenges. The forecast for the next 3-4 weeks is looking positive too, with no sign of harsh winter conditions on the horizon. Consequently, we’ll continue to care for our carrots in the soil until the last possible moment before harvesting – so we can ensure they are as fresh as possible when they reach our facilities.

Building a stronger and more sustainable supply chain
Over the past two years, we have been diligently working on enhancing our supply chain with a new approach that places a strong emphasis on fostering collaboration with our partner farmers. By forging stronger relationships with our growers, the implementation of best agricultural practices has been accelerated across our carrot fields. This has led to measurable improvements such as a reduction in the soil contamination levels of delivered raw material.

These results have only been possible thanks to the hard work and support of our dedicated growers, who not only share our values but also strive for the same goals, making sure that every fruit or vegetable meets our strict quality standards.

Keep calm and ‘carrot on’
The carrot harvest season at SVZ is off to a great start. The favourable weather conditions along with our resilient supply chain – strengthened by the synergistic work of our expert agronomists and partner growers – are all positive indicators of the delicious carrot ingredients that customers can expect.

We’ll make sure to be in touch directly should any important developments happen. In the meantime, stay tuned for more updates as the season progresses!