Crop developer Syngenta’s new range of red Brussels sprouts will be on supermarket shelves by the end of this year. The red sprouts, which have a sweeter flavour than Brussels sprouts and the colour of red cabbage, are part of a wave of traditional crops that are being altered to suit changing palates.
In a move to attract more children to eat fresh fruit and vegetables, the industry has seen baby carrots bred to have a sweeter taste, and mini-cucumbers bred to be sweeter and less juicy. Two years ago, Marks & Spencer launched a line of red bananas, as well as the strawmato, a strawberry-shaped, super-sweet tomato designed for children.
“As a society, we are now less accepting of bitter flavours,” Dr Ian Puddephat, head of research at Syngenta said. “So we are trying to breed these out while maintaining all the good qualities about the fruit and vegetables.
Of the red Brussels sprouts, he said: “Combining the red-purple colour with the milder-taste attributes, we hope the finished variety will be more appealing to children.”
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