Tesco has said it is using high technology optical grading machines to select the best possible Brussels sprouts for its aisles.
The machines will photograph about 180 million sprouts, taking hundreds of 360-degree sprout photographs per second, according to the retailer.
TH Clements, based near Boston in Lincolnshire, is one of the UK’s largest growers of brassica and is the latest Tesco grower to invest in an optical grading machine. Tesco said that now 95% of all sprouts it sells are photographed.
“Thanks to the the latest technology our customers will be able to buy the very best tasting and freshest sprouts available on British high streets," said Rob Hooper, Tesco sprout expert.
Sprouts have benefited from ideal growing conditions this autumn thanks to good amounts of sunshine and the weather getting cold now, Tesco said.
Hooper added, “Most importantly for customers though is that these machines speed up the grading procedure which drastically cuts the time by which we can get sprouts from farm to fork. So however you do Christmas, we’ve got your dinner covered.”
The sprout industry is reportedly now worth £650,000,000 and the area covered by Brussels sprout fields in the UK is the equivalent of 3,240 football pitches.
© 2017 - Checkout Magazine by Donna Ahern
