The new company has already secured marketing rights in 40 countries for the asparagus varieties developed by the Rutgers University breeding programme based in New Jersey in the US.

Tuddenham Hall Estate has 118 acres under production of Rutgers-developed variety Jersey Giant and six new varieties are being trialed at the 350-acre estate, the largest asparagus grower in the UK.

'Jersey varieties are bred totally for green asparagus production, whereas the majority of green asparagus sold in Europe is grown through continental F1 [crowns] which are bred for white asparagus but adapted for use in green production,' explained Richard Clement.

Jersey Giant starts slightly earlier than other varieties grown in the UK at the end of April with the season continuing to the end of June. It is characterised by a tight head and is well suited to the UK climate. Blind taste testings organised by Utopia recently revealed that Jersey tasted better than other varieties trialed as well as being visually superior.

Hargreaves Plants, a specialist soft-fruit plant propagator, is spearheading the commercial development of Asparagus International. 'We have had an interest in asparagus for a while,' said Hargreaves's Paul Taylor, also a director of the new company. 'Like strawberries, it is a fresh product, totally under-supplied in the UK market. The potential is very big and accessing this superb breeding programme is fantastic.' Asparagus International intends to run trials at several UK locations as well as other growing areas in continental Europe. It is also looking at trialing four purple types and working to extend the UK season.

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