Following two years of near disaster for its crop, The Really Garlicky Company in Nairn has harvested the best crop of Scottish garlic it has ever had.
Blighted by a virus in 2007 and low volume in 2008, the Made in Britain Farm Entrepreneur winner hoped that 2009 would not throw up the same problems. Some 35 acres were planted in late autumn 2008 on its farm located in the Scottish Highlands, with the annual harvest beginning last weekend.
Farmer and managing director Glen Allingham said: “The quality is better than we have ever had, although the recent wet weather has made the lifting conditions very challenging.”
Launched in 2001, The Really Garlicky Company pioneered the growing of garlic in Scotland. The strain, Porcelain Hardneck, is closely related to wild garlic, with big cloves, easy-to-peel skin and a sweet, smooth flavour. Really Garlicky garlic has only an average of six to eight cloves.
Available to buy in farm shops, delicatessens and other specialist outlets throughout the UK, the garlic will also be available in Waitrose stores UK-wide and Scottish Tesco stores.