The September After The Summer Before

Barfoots is a family-run business who grow a whole load of different speciality vegetables on their farm on the South Coast — and, outside of the UK growing season, they grow further afield, too, focusing on sustainability every step of the way. They’re now into their 50th year of growing. We've been consistently rescuing from them since 2024 and it’s safe to say this year is one we’ll all remember for a long time to come.

And, while there’s no denying that the cause of such extreme heat is deeply concerning, it’s fair to say that the outcomes for certain crops haven’t been entirely negative. (Well, at least something enjoyed it.) Let’s dive into Emilie’s field notes to take a closer look.

Sweetcorn: highs and lows

Sweetcorn is a Barfoots staple. But while the plants themselves love warm, dry weather, changes to the timings of the season brought on by the unusual conditions caused a real headache for the growers. 

With crops being ready around ten days earlier than planned, and imports from their EU farms already scheduled, Barfoots were suddenly hugely overstocked.

A boost in BBQs meant they could ride that storm for a while… but with temperatures soaring, and many of us deciding it was too hot to eat al fresco, retail orders dipped and our rescue hotline lit up.

As summer draws to a close, it’s looking like sweetcorn season will end ten days early too — leading to more reliance on imports to fulfil existing orders and extra admin for the team.

Corrrrgettes

Ever seen a courgette with speckled, slightly scarred skin? That’s caused by the plants’ prickly leaves rubbing in the wind — an issue Barfoot had a little break from over the hot, breezeless months.

But while cosmetic problems decreased, quantities went through the roof. “On some days, we could harvest the field from 6am-3pm… and then go back to where we started,” is what one grower told us.

So, all good then? Not so fast. Although courgette plants love hot weather, they also drink up a lot of water — Barfoots had to purchase an additional 240,000 cubic meters this season to help ensure their water security. Without it, they would have simply run out and their courgettes would have perished.

At Oddbox, we’ve always rescued courgettes from Barfoots in every size and shape — but again, this season our surplus has finished long before expected. Could this be the start of a new seasonal pattern for us all?

The biggest of beans

Lots of crops — including onions, squashes, potatoes, peas and apples — have come out on the smaller side this summer, due to stressed plants and stunted growth. But not beans.

Despite being a small plant, beans develop a surprisingly deep central taproot, which means they can survive — and even thrive — in hot, dry conditions.

Over the summer we rescued bundles of Barfoots beans that were “too big” for supermarket specs, caused by the crops growing too fast for the harvesting team to keep up. Our growers told us they already have plans in place for extreme rain… but this is one more scenario they’ll have to start scoping out for future seasons.

What’s next?

If there’s one thing we’ve learnt about farming, it’s that nothing is ever predictable. And from mini crops to bigger yields, shifting seasons to retail rollercoasters, this summer has brought more than its fair share of surprises.

We’re proud to have worked with Barfoots, and many other growers, over the past few months and into the start of autumn — and we’ll carry on rescuing delicious fruit and veg whether it’s early or late, big or small, smooth or speckled. We just hope others start to do the same. 

A note from Barfoots

“For us, sustainability is about being as productive as possible in the short-term, while making sure we’ll be able to produce just as much food in the future. Sustainability is a big part of every decision we make: what we grow and where we grow it; how we manage soil, water and biodiversity; how we use energy and reduce waste; and how we work with our customers and communities.

It means a great deal to us that we can make the most of our crops — and our hard work — by making sure delicious, nutritious vegetables go to Oddboxers everywhere, instead of going to waste. Thank you for your support.” Kim Barfoot-Brace, Barfoots team.