British Sugar and the National Farmer's Union (NFU) have agreed the provisional factory opening dates for this year's sugar harvest. Newark factory will open on 12 September 2003 with the remaining five factories - Allscott, Bury St Edmunds, Cantley, Wissington and York - opening on 16 September.
These dates are based on continued development of the sugar beet crop and favourable weather conditions for harvesting. Indeed, industry experts are hopeful of a bumper crop this year.
"British Sugar and the NFU wanted to give growers and hauliers as much notice as possible, to give them the opportunity to plan their harvest," said British Sugar's manufacturing director Karl Carter.
"With an increasing focus on transport safety, we will also be using this time to work closely with growers and hauliers to ensure that all drivers are made fully aware of the revised safety requirements on all of our sites."