The Watercess Company (TWC) is looking to convince both the multiples and consumers that the edible flowers that can occur on a watercress crop are not only harmless but an addition to the average pack of watercress leaves.
TWC MD Tom Amery is hoping to engage in talks with certain supermarkets to change the specification for bagged watercress to include the small white flowers, which have a peppery taste. The move has the backing of more than 1,000 consumers who signed a petition at the Watercress Festival.
Amery told FPJ: “The flowers can appear at a certain stage of growth and if we have a watercress bed that has some flowers at the point of harvest, it doesn’t meet the specifications and it is a huge waste. Watercress is part of the nasturtium family anyway and the flowers don’t affect the overall taste of the product, as they are pretty similar to the leaves. It would be good to have the freedom to include them and although we could not guarantee the crop flowering, it could well end up a feature.”
No comments yet