Birds Eye has writen to farmers in Norfolk and Suffolk informing them of the cancellation of an important export contract for peas. This means that almost 200 farmers in East Anglia will now be planting a reduced or nil acreage of peas for Birds Eye in 2010. The news comes just weeks before planting would have begun for this year’s crop.

A spokesperson for Birds Eye said:

“It is with great regret that due to the recent and sudden loss of a substantial export contract with an Italian business, we are to cease pea production in the Lowestoft area. We have informed our grower and processing partners in Lowestoft and the five members of our agricultural team who will be affected. We will be working with them to minimise the impact. That is all the information we are able to announce at this early stage.”