The Co-op has seen sales of fresh garden peas treble this season, which it attributed to the sweetness of this year’s crop.
Commercial manager Adele Balmforth said British vegetables generally were having “a really amazing season” but fresh peas were seeing their best sales ever at the Co-op.
“They are particularly sweet and juicy this year, which means they can be eaten raw or quickly cooked, whilst the task of shelling them is good fun for kids and gets them involved, even if a few do end up on the floor rather than in the bowl,” Balmforth said.
The British pea season runs from May to September. This year’s crop had been a bumper one because of the warm and wet weather, the retailer said.
Peas come from suppliers in Somerset, where the Co-op said the growing climate was good and the rolling topography and varied soils of the Somerset Vale allowed the area to “catch” the weather.
Hand picking also took place at the optimum time to ensure maximum flavour, it added, and early season peas were picked, packed and delivered to stores within 36 hours.
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