A wonky version of one of the UK’s most expensive vegetables, asparagus, has gone on sale this week for just £1 at a major supermarket chain due to some of the crop growing in less than perfect shape during the recent warm early spring weather.
A warm early spring has encouraged asparagus shoots to push up early this year.
As shoots track the sun around the sky – and early spring sun levels are low - some of the crop has grown into an uncharacteristic crooked shape. Changeable temperatures have also led to shorter and longer spears.
Morrisons has added the crooked asparagus to its 14-strong wonky fruit and veg range – which includes carrots and potatoes – launched last year in a bid to tackle food waste.
“We’ve stepped in to buy the crop as we wanted to help growers and put this normally luxury ingredient into the hands of shoppers for just a pound,” said Michael Weightman, asparagus buyer at Morrisons.
New opportunity for wonky veg
In previous years farmers may have sent a wonky crop to be processed into other food products or may not even have harvested the crop at all.
But the venture marks a new opportunity to make some fruit and veg more affordable - helping to bring down the costs of shoppers' increasingly expensive grocery bills.
Asparagus is somewhat of a delicacy because its growing season lasts just eight weeks, from St George’s Day to the summer solstice.
Morrisons sold 25,000 tonnes of wonky veg last year, reports trade magazine The Grocer.
Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose also have wonky veg lines.
