The first UK asparagus of the season hit Tesco stores this week.
The Evesham store in Worcestershire took the first delivery yesterday and the product will be subject to a host of promotions throughout the season.
This year’s early crop has been grown by S&A Produce in Great Witley, Worcestershire and was hand delivered to the Evesham outlet.
The asparagus is cultivated in a glasshouse, where soil is heated by an underground water-heating system, on the growing site at Hillhampton Nursery.
The site will be in operation until early April, when production will switch to S&A’s field crops at its Stoke Edith site in Herefordshire.
This is the fourth year that S&A has grown an asparagus crop in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, and the company has already taken a significant share of the UK asparagus market.
Daniel Martin, sales director for S&A Produce, said: “We are delighted that we have once again grown and delivered asparagus so early in the season. It is a real credit to the hard work and dedication of our asparagus-growing team that we have managed again to meet the demand for home-grown produce so early in the year.”
Tesco asparagus buyer Nicola Jamieson said: “Last year saw our biggest UK asparagus campaign to date.
“We are confident that by offering customers the UK crop as soon as it’s ready, we can build upon last year’s success and make 2010 even bigger.”
Tesco British Tender Trimmed Asparagus is available in a 125g pack priced at £2.
