Crackerjack and Sakura the best of British peas

With the announcement of the PGRO Recommended List results for 2011, it is apparent that some pea varieties are clear front runners in terms of agronomic benefits. Alongside this, commercially attractive contracts are available for these leading varieties; good news for growers looking for ways to balance out farm profitability in times of cereal price volatility.

Crackerjack top yielding blue variety with premium potential

After two successful years, the large blue variety Crackerjack, confirms its leading position as the highest yielding pea variety, says James Wallace of Daltons Seeds.

What is reassuring is that Crackerjack has demonstrated its ability to counter short term drought stress by continuing to produce pods when other varieties have aborted pods to conserve moisture.

This leading position on the Recommended List, based on Crakerjacks high yields combined with good standing and disease resistance, is also reflected in French trials, where it holds the position as the top yielding blue pea, he adds. The strong green colour and limited bleaching in poor harvest conditions, has resulted in significant demand from Denmark.

Suitable for the micronising and other premium blue pea markets, it is on the basis of these results that Crackerjack remains a favourite for both premium home and export markets.

Sakura – top quality marrowfat increases market demand

Sakura has produced high quality peas with excellent colour retention, despite bleaching problems with some varieties after the August rains. Also, farmers have found it easy to manage agronomically, and it has yielded well, says Mr Wallace.

This quality has been demonstrated by Sakura securing the winner and runner up positions in the 2010 BEPA Quality Marrowfat competition. On the basis of this quality, Sakura has become the in demand variety in the premium far eastern export markets, and contracts are available to increase the acreage grown in the UK by 40% in 2011.

As Sakura is only available to British growers, this is an excellent opportunity for them to benefit from a premium price market.

Dalton Seeds was established in 1952. It has concentrated on producing quality seed and providing a service that is second to none.

Dalton’s has its own modern seed plant located at Eye near Peterborough. Using the latest in seed cleaning equipment Daltons can process all major crop species and can offer a full range of cereals, pulses and oilseeds.

Dalton Seeds is the marketing agent for a number of varieties in the UK, not least in the quality pea sector.

Dalton Seeds also contract process seed for a number of UK and multi-national seed companies.