A hair-raising 1.25 million pumpkins from a South Holland firm have landed on a supermarkets shelves.
Lincolnshire Field Products (LFP) has supplied 11 different varieties of the fruit and 12 line of edible squash to supermarket giant Asda from its 400 acres.
Its base between Weston and Spalding has grown over 400 acres of pumpkins this year ahead of Halloween.
Martin Tate, commercial director at LFP, said: “Our output this year is looking fantastic, and we’re excited to see
our pumpkins land in Asda stores around the country. Our edible squash has been added to the line-up for the first time, and we think customers will love it.
“Our line of work is always busy, but at this time of year, the pumpkins take over and it’s all hands on deck as they’re gathered from the fields and spruced up, ready for the shelves.
“A big priority for pumpkins is that they look fantastic, so we’ve got a great washing process that sees the pumpkins go into a machine muddy from the fields and come out bright and shiny after a whirl through a big bath where they’re polished with brushes.
“It’s wonderful to witness them go from the field in wooden bins, then through the washer and on out to be sorted and labelled, ready for the stores and on to people’s homes in time for Halloween.”
LFP has worked with Asda for more than 30 years, supplying pumpkins for 15.
Martin said: “As our largest customer, Asda is hugely important to LFP. We’re proud that our partnership is so strong and enduring, and that it allows us to play a part in protecting the sustainability of local supply chains – something that ensures consumers can get the quality local produce they want.”
