Tesco buyer Roy Maynard has reiterated the retailer’s long-term aim to source its entire onion requirement from British growers.

Homegrown product currently represents 32 per cent of multiple sales and Tesco further closed the gap for the first time this week using a specially selected secret early variety chosen by one of its major grower/packers Stourgarden and its own technical team.

Maynard said Tesco will now be able to offer its customers a British 1.5 kg Value pack throughout the year.

The early crop has been grown from over-wintered seed in the coastal area near Colchester, Essex, by David Hunter. He delivered the first samples to Tesco's headquarters at Cheshunt this week.

"The crop has been densely planted so we can provide Tesco with the 40-70 mm size bulb required," he said. There will be availability for around a month until conventionally-grown onions raised from sets are harvested.

Maynard stressed that the driving force was to reduce imports by working with the best growers and in so doing support British horticulture.

"The gap is already closing every year," he said. "It might be possible to fulfil this strategy for all our onion requirements within five years.”

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