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The vining pea harvest is likely to be delayed by about seven days due to cold conditions earlier in the season and so far it is difficult to predict yields, says Fen peas managing director, Stephen Francis.

"Until we're into the crop we don't know. If there are usually nine peas in a pod and there are only eight, it may not seem a big difference but is more than 10 per cent. But we will have to wait to see pod fill. We expect to start harvesting around June 24." 

As harvest approaches, vining peas are seeing good demand as consumers choose to eat at home or on staycation, says Mr Francis. "When lockdown started in March [2020] more people were cooking at home and everyone was buying frozen food. And demand since then has not dropped away.  

"Jamie OIiver was doing lockdown meals and peas featured a lot. They are easy to prepare, there is very little waste and they are very versatile so fitted the bill for people." 

"Fewer people are travelling abroad on holiday - they are dining within the country and eating English produce; peas are part of that."