Customers at Covent Garden market were amazed to find early volumes of UK asparagus available at wholesaler Gilgrove on Friday morning, well before the traditional season kicks off, according to the company’s Peter Fowler.
“The first batch of 30 cases came in from Flamingo Holdings on Thursday night, making us quite probably the first wholesaler in the country to be supplying UK asparagus this season,” said Fowler. “Quality is good and the product is fetching £2 for a 250g bundle, extremely high when compared to our other asparagus from Spain, California, Mexico and Peru, which is tending to achieve prices of £1-£1.30 per kg.”
Customers have reacted well so far to the product, said Fowler, with around two-thirds sold on Friday and the remainder to be shifted over the weekend. “People have been absolutely staggered to see UK asparagus available so early in the year,” he told FPJ. “This market entry comes one month earlier than in 2006 - and it was even early last year. The first cut has also been better this time and packing and presentation is excellent. However, the stems are not quite thick enough yet.”
Caterers and high-class chefs have been snapping up the product, added Fowler, and some volumes have been sent to retail stall Elsey & Bent in south London’s Borough Market, where they will be sold to the public.
“Generally the public are into asparagus now, and it is becoming a more commonplace vegetable to cook at home,” he said.
Andy Jones, commercial director of Flamingo Holdings, told FPJ:
“In the Wye Valley in Herefordshire, where this batch came from, south-facing slopes and the region’s microclimate have allowed harvesting one week earlier than in 2006. The recent warm spell has also certainly helped.
“Flamingo is also sourcing asparagus from a farmer in Cornwall called Mark Rowe, with supplies now kicking off in limited volumes, as we had scheduled. This region also offers a special microclimate, which makes it ideal for asparagus production. It used to be the UK’s major growing area, but then the industry dwindled, and we are trying to revive it,” Jones added.
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