UK demand for asparagus soars by 540% over a decade

Tesco asparagus buyer: 'Asparagus, particularly the home-grown variety, has become one of the UK’s trendiest vegetables.' Photograph: Jupiterimages/Getty Images

It was once considered a slightly "posh" culinary delicacy whose arrival in the shops still symbolises the start of the British spring. But as consumer demand for British-grown asparagus has rocketed over the last decade, producers have nearly trebled the amount they grow.

In 10 years UK demand for the vegetable has soared by 540% according to Kantar data produced for the British Asparagus Association.

During that time the amount grown by UK farmers has soared from 788 hectares in 2005 to 2,178 hectares this year – a leap of 176%. The UK's largest supermarket, Tesco, reports that demand is growing at 20% year on year.

Tesco asparagus buyer Adam Morris said: "Asparagus, particularly the home-grown variety, has become one of the UK's trendiest vegetables. A lot of that is down to seasonality and the short-lived British season which only lasts for roughly eight weeks from mid-April to mid-June."

"In the past British growers were reluctant to give over field space to such a niche product but now there is a great clamour for the home grown variety as experts say it is the best in the world because of our perfect, mild climate."

Airmile-laden products from Peru – still the world's largest exporter of asparagus – have traditionally bolstered British supermarket shelves because of the unpredictability of British weather.

At Marks & Spencer sales of British asparagus last week were up by 48% compared with the previous year. The retailer was the first in the UK to stock asparagus at the beginning of March and the first to sell 100% UK stock in mid April. A spokeswoman said: "This has paid off with the sales as it seems as soon as British comes in our customers rush to buy it."

Waitrose has this year been selling British-grown asparagus four weeks earlier than usual because of the good weather, with sales up 28% week on week.

Last year Tesco trialled white asparagus which proved popular with shoppers, and this year it has doubled the amount it has on its shelves. White asparagus is a highly-prized gourmet food that until last year was only imported from the continent but is now being grown in commercial quantities for the first time by Britain's largest asparagus growers, Cobrey Farms who are based in the Wye Valley, Herefordshire.

White asparagus has traditionally been the preserve of foodies, featuring in the recipes of celebrity chefs and on the menus of top Michelin starred restaurants such as Gordon Ramsey's Foxtrot Oscar.