Morrisons adds asparagus to wonky veg range and is selling it for just £1 – the cheapest on the market
Asparagus is somewhat of a delicacy because its growing season lasts just eight weeks
MORRISONS has added asparagus - one of Britain's most expensive vegetables - to its wonky veg range, and the grocer is selling it for just £1.
The market-leading price allows customers to buy the "luxury" veg at a discount.
Asparagus is somewhat of a delicacy because its growing season lasts just eight weeks, from St George’s Day to the summer solstice.
Because the UK has experienced a warm early spring this year, asparagus shoots have shot up early, as they track the low sun around the sky.
This has caused some crops to grow into a "wonky" shape, and a combination of changeable hot and cold spring temperatures has also resulted in shorter and longer spears.
Now Morrisons has added the crooked spears to its 14-strong wonky fruit and veg range, which also contains carrots and potatoes, and was launched last year in a bid to tackle food waste.
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The asparagus will be sold at just £1 for a 180g bag, making it the cheapest asparagus on the market.
Aldi is selling a 170g bunch for £1.09, while Lidl is selling 250g for £1.60. Asda is selling a 150g bunch for £1.
Morrisons said that although the asparagus is wonky, it still has tender spears which taste sweet and fresh.
Michael Weightman, asparagus buyer at Morrisons said: “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.”
James Dale from Flamingo Produce said: “The warm early spring and temperature fluctuations has resulted in ten to fifteen per cent of our asparagus crop growing wonky this spring.
"But it’s only their shape which is different. Growing asparagus takes many years of hard work so we’re grateful that this part of the crop is being sold on to customers and will not be wasted.”
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.
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