LETTERS – Navy beans were grown in 1980s

I have to correct your article in this week’s Voice entitled Beans Means Long Sutton.
Your opening statement: “The first UK grown baked beans have been tinned (should read canned) in Long Sutton” is incorrect.
UK grown Navy Beans (the bean which is used in beans in tomato sauce) were first grown in the UK and canned at Long Sutton in the late 1980s.
We canned a total of 80 tonnes for Sainsbury and Safeway with a Union Jack label on the can. We grew further plots in 2008 and 2012.
In order to satisfy the UK demand for canned beans in tomato sauce 100,000 tonnes of Navy beans would need to be grown.

Martin Dickinson
via email