A FARMER who bet he could produce the first crop of British asparagus this year is being given a run for his money by Worcestershire growers.
County growers have begun to cut the vegetable three weeks before the traditional start of the season and one farm shop is already selling the crop.
Isle of Wight farmer David Brown had placed a £1,000 bet with Ladbrokes, at 2-1 odds, that he could produce the first commercial quantity of asparagus in the country - but according to Worcestershire farms, his asparagus is not the first on sale this year.
Birlingham Nurseries, near Pershore, cut its crop three weeks ago and is now selling it in its farm shop.
"We usually manage to get our asparagus out by mid-March so we're on target this year," said Tina Bolton. "I wouldn't like to place a bet on something like this, as you don't know what could happen."
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