Breeder Hargreaves Plants is delighted with the results of independent flavour tests which put its Mondeo asparagus ahead of industry standard Gijnlim.
Plant material for Mondeo is marketed in the UK exclusively by Hargreaves Plants Ltd and was put through its paces by plant phytochemist Dr Hazel MacTavish West. The final results showed significant improvements in eating quality, as well as offering lower carbohydrate and being less fibrous when compared with the UK industry standard.
Hargreaves Plants director Jamie Petchell said: “The big advantage of Mondeo is that it crops five to seven days earlier than current standard varieties. But these days it is not enough to conduct normal yield and spear quality trials. As a nursery, we have to demonstrate to the overall market place that there are benefits in our new varieties. That is why we have taken the extra step of nutritional analysis for Mondeo. Since the original trial plots were planted in 2004, Mondeo has produced significantly more marketable yield than the control variety. Our order book in 2011 suggests that growers have already reacted to this information, but we have now squared the circle with this independent nutritional data.”
Dr MacTavish-West assessed the flavour of both varieties, raw and cooked and found Mondeo had a more intense flavour scoring 4/5 on intensity compared with Gijnlim (2/5) with notes of asparagus and green beans. Gijnlim had more bitter notes to the flavour and when cooked Mondeo was still preferred.
