Asda is predicting a vintage Halloween on the back of a bumper pumpkin crop.
The supermarket's growers have harvested a month earlier than usual following a good summer, with a record two million pumpkins being picked. Sales are expected to be over 60 per cent higher than in 2015, Asda said.
The warm summer weather, combined with recent rainfall, has helped the crop along, with extra-large varieties weighing up to 30kg and with names such as Big Doris and Gladiator in plentiful supply.
Pumpkin grower and Asda supplier Kevin Curson said: “The British weather can be your best friend or worst enemy when it comes to harvest time. We planted the pumpkin seeds several months back and have since been blessed with the weather, which has boosted the size and number of pumpkins we’re harvesting.
'We’d been checking on the pumpkins regularly and were surprised to see that the weather conditions meant we had to bring forward the start of harvest to 1 September. Whilst earlier than expected, we always ensure we’re picking pumpkins when they’re at their best, so it was important to get the operation moving quickly.”
Jon Wynn, Asda vegetable technical manager, added: “In recent years, we’ve seen a huge increase in the demand for pumpkins as more households adopt Halloween as an annual tradition. Thanks to a bumper crop, Asda will have over two million pumpkins available of all shapes and sizes and in perfect condition for creepy carving and trick or treating.”
Asda reported that sales of pumpkins have almost doubled around Halloween. In 2015, 1.35m pumpkins were sold, with 2.2m predicted for this year.
This year's crop, which comes in medium, large and extra large sizes, will be available in store from 5 October.
