Tesco shares big change in its Brussels sprouts this year – 25% bigger and ‘noticeably tastier’
Christmas sprouts are set to be a whopping 25 per cent bigger this festive season, bringing extra cheer to Brussels sprout enthusiasts across the UK.
The popular Christmas dinner vegetable will reach 30mm in diameter, compared to last year’s 24mm, thanks to new varieties that are better suited to the UK’s climate and soil, Tesco explained.
The bumper crop is not just larger but also promises to be tastier, according to the supermarket, combining improved growing conditions with hardier varieties specifically chosen for British weather.
The retailer said: “For fans, there’s even better news because sprouts are also likely to be noticeably tastier thanks to a combination of good growing conditions and new varieties that are more suited to the UK climate and soil.”
Tesco has been collaborating with suppliers T H Clements in Lincolnshire and Drysdale in Berwickshire, Scotland, to identify varieties more resilient to British weather conditions.
The initiative follows a difficult 2023 season when heavy rainfall in late November and December resulted in below-average yields.
“We’ve been working hard this year to bring in new varieties that have helped us deliver a better tasting sprout with a crunchier texture and perfect size,” said Tesco sprout buyer Simon Tenwick.
“The quality of the festive crop that has been coming through in the last few weeks is among the best we’ve had in recent years.”
This year’s growing conditions have been markedly different from last year, when Storm Babet brought persistent autumn rainfall and unseasonably mild temperatures.
T H Clements commercial director John Moulding explained: “This year we’ve pretty much had a reversal in growing conditions to 2023 with the right amounts of warmth and sunshine during the summer months after they were planted, good amounts of rain during the autumn and now colder weather in December.”
The company has focused on selecting new planting areas in Lincolnshire’s coastal region.
“The silts are situated in different growing areas that all have their own microclimates and coastal frost protection. Sprouts enjoy the breeze of the coast that gives frost protection,” the expert added.
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In the run-up to Christmas, T H Clements will operate up to 16 harvesters working around the clock to meet festive demand.
The company is set to provide an impressive 192 million sprouts for British dinner tables this holiday season. Looking to the future, T H Clements has committed to achieving carbon-neutral status by 2040.
The supplier is investing in modern farming techniques that work in harmony with nature to meet its environmental goals.