Asda cuts carbon footprint by developing British grapes
Grapes grown in Britain are to be sold in supermarkets for the first time. Asda, in partnership with farmers in Kent and Spanish grape growers, has developed two seedless varieties which can be grown on a commercial scale. Although UK wine growers have been using home grown grapes for many years, these have not been regarded as suitable for eating. The fruit should be in shops at the end of next summer. The ability to produce grapes in the UK means Asda will reduce its carbon footprint. The retailer sells 1.4 million punnets of grapes every week and currently imports the fruit from 15 different countries, primarily Spain, but also India, South America and Chile.

Grapes grown in Britain are to go into high street supermarkets and the nation’s fruit bowls for the first time.

UK wine growers have been using home grown grapes for many years. However, it was thought the climate and soil was not suitable for dessert or table grapes.

But a series of trials running for the past three years has led to the development of two seedless grape varieties which can be grown on a commercial scale.

Asda said they will sell British grown grapes for the first time following a successful experiment in Kent

The trials have involved a partnership with farmers in Kent, supermarket giant Asda and expert growers from Spain.

They are now ready to be grown on a commercial basis and the first crops should go into British stores at the end of next summer.

Asda grapes category manager, Alberto Goldbacher, said: ‘It’s incredibly exciting to be reaping the rewards of this trial.

‘We have tested lots of different varieties of grapes over the last three years and our main problem has been getting the sweetness of the grape right for our customers, as the climate in the UK means we don’t always get the sunshine and light needed for this develop within the grape.

‘We’ve now seen great promise and are happy to move forward with this trial on a much larger scale.’

Farmers in Kent invited Spanish experts to help them and the first crops will be in the stores next Autumn

The new UK crop of grapes will be harvested between August and October, meaning they will be on shelf to coincide with the Spanish grape season ending.

The ability to produce grapes in the UK means Asda will reduce its carbon footprint as it won’t have to source as many grapes from countries such as Brazil.

Mr Goldbacher said: ‘Grapes grown in the UK have previously only been suitable for making wine as they’re typically very small, have a thick skin and have a large seed in the middle.

‘For the first time ever in the UK, these new table grapes are exactly what you’d expect to see on a supermarket shelf, in both look and taste.’