Supermarkets were due to offer the first UK cucumbers of the season in store on February 15 - almost a week ahead of last year.
“For the first five weeks of this year our light meter shows a 22 per cent increase in light levels compared to last year,” said a Sainsbury’s spokeswoman.
“Our earliest grower planted three days later this year and generally most growers planted the same or a week later than in 2006.
“We expect to have cucumbers into Sainsbury’s five days earlier than last season.”
The cucumbers are grown in Essex and Hertfordshire and this year there has been no need to resort to artificial light. “They are heated, but no artificial light is used,” said the chain’s spokeswoman.
“Light levels over the winter have definitely helped.” The chain expects to be running with 100 per cent UK product in three weeks and will carry though until the end of October.
Tesco told FPJ it was offering its first cues in store on February 15 too.
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