Great British Pea Week will return for a ninth year next month as it aims to celebrate the UK pea vining sector, which produces 2 billion portions of peas each year.
Great British Pea Week will take place from July 1-7, 2024, and strives to bring attention to the versatile vegetable and its hard-working farmers.
Launched by the Yes Peas! campaign back in 2015, the event recognises the industry-wide effort made by experts across the pea vining sector during their busiest period.
The eight-week British harvest sees farmers work around the clock to shell, harvest and transport the peas from field to frozen as quickly as possible, with the majority of peas making it from field to frozen under two and a half hours, organisers said.
“Great British Pea Week gives the UK a reason to celebrate the little green wonders during the busy pea harvesting season, inspiring the nation to make peas their vegetable of choice for everyday cooking.
“After all, they’re a pretty versatile vegetable – whether you’re popping them into a tasty soup or casserole, spreading on toast or throwing into a pasta, the choices are endless.”
British peas
An average British person consumes around 9,000 peas every year, so organisers have said the pea harvest is critical in ensuring frozen peas make to supermarket shelves to sustain demand.
The British pea industry harvests 160,000t of frozen peas each year.
Alongside encouraging usage, Great British Pea Week also champions the 700 pea farmers across the UK who work to ensure that Great Britain remains the largest producer and consumer of frozen peas in Europe.
They maintain the country’s track record of being 90% self-sufficient in pea production, organisers said.
Crop association executive at the British Growers Association, Holly Jones, runs the Yes Peas! campaign.
She said: “Nearly all peas in supermarket freezers are grown on a British farm by a British farmer, and Great British Pea Week serves as the perfect occasion to celebrate those who bring our favourite veggie from field to frozen.
“We want to encourage the nation to not make peas a side dish, but the main event in any meal.”
