OVER the past few weeks, there have been some alarming reports about this year’s asparagus crop.

The cold weather, it is said, has halted the growth of the crop across Worcestershire, with farmers saying they have only 10 to 15 per cent of what they should have at this time of year.

Adrian Barlow, a spokesman for the Asparagus Growers Association, was quoted as saying growers were facing “a very difficult situation”.

He said: “Production has been reduced enormously, and the British industry finds it hard to keep up.”

So, what is the situation at your local farmers’ market? Will we be able to enjoy those delicious spears this year, or will our local delicacy be in short supply?

Sadly, the answer is local asparagus has been very slow this year. Roger Styan, of Styan Family Produce, says: “We are two-thirds down on our normal level of production. Nobody has got enough supply of British asparagus this year.

“We took 60 bunches of asparagus to market last Saturday and we were sold out by 9.30am. Usually, we would easily sell about 200 bunches.”

There will, hopefully, be a lot more asparagus available, from a number of small, local suppliers, at the annual Evesham Asparagus Festival, held at The Fleece, at Bretforton, next weekend.

The Asparagus Festival Day, on Monday, May 31, is a fun day for all the family. Alongside the farmers’ market, there will also be a rural and handicraft fair, displays and cooking demonstrations and asparagus tastings and meals. Also, not be missed, is the Asparagus Roadshow with celebrity Henry Sandon.

Today’s farmers’ market is at St Peter’s Garden Centre, Worcester, from 9.30am until 2pm. The following weekend’s market is the Evesham Asparagus Festival, on Monday, May 31, at The Fleece, Bretforton, from 10am until 3pm.