Cobrey Farms, the company which grows and supplies 100 per cent of M&S’ British asparagus is expanding its production of the white variety this year.
The first green crop was available for Valentine’s Day this year, and the company expects a good season on the back of last year’s excellent summer. “It should be a great season but predicting the start of the main season is really hard as it all now depends on the weather in the next few weeks and months, I guess this is part of the joy of asparagus,” said Chris Chinn.
As well as growing in Suffolk and Norfolk, the company uses tunnels and polythene to provide supply from early spring into the autumn. This year it has increased production of white asparagus after first marketing it last summer. Despite being very popular on the Continent, the white crop remains a niche product in the UK.
“It was very popular last year, mostly among people who had experienced it in mainland Europe where it is the main type and the chefs who were looking for something different to work with,” explained Chris, who expects the first spears to be available from mid April.