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Locally Grown

Articles / Food and Drink / Locally Grown /

British Asparagus Now In Season
April 30 2009

md_British Asparagus.jpg British asparagus is now in season and is picked daily and in the shops within 48 hours, unlike imported spears that may be in refrigerated transport for much longer. Why does this matter? Well for one thing, it is always best to buy locally, for so many reasons that we all know now, but it also affects the delicious taste.

Asparagus season starts as the soil warms up to 10C-12C and we see our first harvests in the warmer south. We have had a mild winter and warm spring this year and so we should hopefully have plenty to nibble.

There are three colours of asparagus, green purple and white. Green asparagus is the main variety grown in the UK. The purple asparagus tastes the same and white asparagus grows underground (hence the lack of colour!). As asparagus is picked by hand the price is even higher for this tricky variety! I am not sure it is worth the extra quite frankly.

So what makes British asparagus so good? Some growers think that our temperate climate and slower growing make it sooooo delicious in the first place, but as the spears should be cooked and eaten as soon as possible after harvesting (the sugars in the plant start to turn to starch after picking) local asparagus, with quick delivery to our shops and farmers markets, is so much sweeter and tasty.

Even quicker, you can always pick your own. Find your local place to buy asparagus on the British asparagus website

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