New-season British asparagus hit the shelves at The Co-operative on Monday - almost a month earlier than usual.
The much-anticipated product will be stocked in 11 stores this week before it is rolled out across the UK.
The British asparagus season traditionally runs from late-April to mid-June.
But the product is available at The Co-operative earlier than usual after an underground water-heating system, which simulates spring conditions by warming the soil to bring forward stem initiation, was developed for this season by grower Steve McGuffie.
He said: “With the introduction of this new growing technique, the Co-op has been able to hit the UK market four weeks earlier than usual.”
Sean Deakins, category buyer for produce at The Co-operative, said: “We work closely with our suppliers to ensure we offer our customers high-quality, seasonal British produce for as long as possible. By extending the traditional asparagus season, our customers can enjoy the product almost a month early.”
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