Pumpkin farmers face weather woes and worker shortages as demand grows

As autumn settles in, Cardiff’s pumpkin picking provides a festive way to celebrate Halloween and an opportunity to support local farmers navigating tough times

Pumpkins in a field
“You can’t run around the aisles at Tesco,” says Clearwell Farms owner

Farmers across south Wales are facing significant challenges this autumn, including unpredictable weather and a shortage of seasonal workers, which have led to fewer pickable pumpkins. 

Pick-your-own pumpkin growers like David Phillips of Clearwell Farm are worried there won’t be enough to meet demand, and are having to take steps to manage the process in new ways.

Despite the high popularity of this seasonal activity, farmers all over Wales have struggled from an unusually wet year making it difficult for pumpkins to grow, with The Met Office saying this summer was the coldest of the past nine years.

Situated between Cardiff and Newport, Phillips notes that pumpkin picking is “a growing trend”, if you’ll excuse the pun. The overwhelming demand has led Clearwell Farm to require ticket sales this year to manage visitor numbers. 

Phillips highlights the joy of pumpkin picking as a unique autumn experience, stating: “You can’t run around the aisles at Tesco.” Visitors come to his farm for the quality and freshness often lacking in shops, despite the challenge posed by low supermarket prices, which he says “undermine local growers.”

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) stresses the need for support in the agriculture sector. NFU president Tom Bradshaw emphasises the need for a strong plan to improve Britain’s food security, stating that food is not a political issue and “it should not be kicked around like a rotten pumpkin,” while Shadow Defra secretary Steve Barclay warns of an uncertain future for many farming businesses.

Bradshaw advocates for increased government support for British farming through a multi-year annual budget of £5.6 billion. This funding will primarily address environmental goals, while also enhancing productivity and ensuring economic stability for farm businesses. The overall aim is to promote the health and well-being of the nation by strengthening the agricultural sector.