Earlier today, I showed my support for the farming industry in my constituency by raising the Vale of Evesham’s British Asparagus Festival at Prime Minister’s Questions.
I invited the Prime Minister to come to Evesham to meet Gus the Asparagus Man, celebrate the British Asparagus Festival and show his support for our fantastic farming industry.
The Prime Minister replied,
“I am happy to say that my Hon Friend is only one constituency away, we share the same railway line, so if there’s any opportunity to have some great British asparagus I’d be happy to join him.”
The British Asparagus Festival runs from 23rd April to 21st June. The Festival includes Asparabus Coach Tours, a family fun day and the Famous Asparagus Auctions, as well as Asparafest – a music and food festival over the weekend of 4th and 5th June.
Local providers of asparagus for the Festival include Evesham Vale Growers Ltd, First Gras, Revills Farm Shop, Wayside Farm Shop, Abbey Butchers, Red Star Growers, Westgrowers, and Ellenden Farm Shop.
Gus – the Asparagus Man made his debut to the world at the opening event of the 2008 British Asparagus Festival in the Vale of Evesham and this larger than life character has gone on to be an ever-present at Asparagus Events.
Agriculture is fundamental to the landscape of the UK and the sector makes a direct economic contribution of £10.7 billion, with farming employing some 400,000 people.
The Vale of Evesham is proud to be one of the biggest and most well-known producers of asparagus in the country. Now in its 9th year, the British Asparagus Festival has grown bigger and better year on year. I, like many of my constituents, am looking forward to another bumper crop of local asparagus and the British Asparagus Festival’s fun series of events over the coming months. I hope the Prime Minister will be able to join us at some point during this year’s festivities.