With the UK asparagus season soon expected to double in length, research carried out by breeder and marketeer Hargreaves Plants has found the total UK retail market for asparagus is growing by 20-30 per cent a year.
“We were a little surprised at the UK figures, but find them very encouraging,” said Jamie Petchell, asparagus project manager for Spalding-based Hargreaves. “Gras is no longer a minority vegetable, and with sales volumes increasing this way, the industry can be hopeful of continuing good returns.”
The research among the multiples, “reputable UK contacts” and during the EurAsper conference last month found 7,000 tonnes of fresh asparagus are sold annually in the UK; 2,500t is grown locally; the crop retails at 700p a kilo; total retail sales in the UK are worth
£49 million; UK-grown gras is valued at £17.5m.
“We see a great opportunity for UK asparagus,” said Petchell. New varieties and crop manipulation could soon mean a UK season of up to four months, he added.
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