Marks & Spencer has said sales of “reverse season” asparagus have been strong in its first week back on shelf.
The second season of the asparagus, grown by John Chinn, has kicked off strongly, with the product available until November.
M&S head of trading for produce, flowers and plants Stuart Forder is pleased with the product. John Chinn added that the product is also available to supply to wholesalers.
M&S agronomist Dr Simon Coupe said: “There is always an air of excitement when the first British asparagus comes into season in the spring and our customers always tell us that it’s such a shame that the window to enjoy it is so short, so we decided this was something we wanted to try to change.
Dr Coupe added: “We went on several study trips with our grower who travels the world researching asparagus, and in the Mediterranean we discovered a special new variety that we thought could grow in the UK. We then worked out a careful plan for feeding and watering it so it could grow in the UK during the autumn for a second season of delicious British Asparagus.”
John Chinn said: “This is a really exciting achievement - by discovering this new variety we will revolutionise the asparagus industry by offering British grown asparagus to M&S customers for a further two months, long after the traditional season has finished. We really want to drive the British asparagus industry forwards and do this in the most sustainable and natural way.”
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