PixabayQuinoa, avocado and pineapples are among the foods Brits mistakenly think are traditionally grown in the UK, a study has found.
Researchers who polled 2,000 adults found many don’t know where everyday fruit and vegetables originate from, which ones are seasonal or where they are typically grown.
Other fruit and veg those polled wrongly believe are usually cultivated in Britain include artichokes (32 per cent), butternut squash (34 per cent) and melon (12 per cent).
And a third believe sweet potatoes are commonly grown on UK farms – despite them most usually being produced in southern India.
It also emerged six in 10 NEVER consider where their groceries originate from – although 65 per cent would rather buy British if given the choice.
Commissioned by Crosse & Blackwell, which has recently launched four new variants to its range of soups, the research also found 77 per cent think it’s ‘important’ for UK companies to support UK suppliers.
Dean Towey, marketing director for Princes, owner of Crosse & Blackwell, said:
We’re immensely proud of our long-standing relationships working with UK suppliers.
It’s something we’re excited to build on with our new range of variants which include Carrot & Quinoa, Chicken & Multigrain, Broad Bean, Gammon & Parsley and Green Vegetable & Kale.
We know our customers want to support local producers which is why, though it’s not actually traditionally grown in the UK, we’ve sought out independent farms who do in fact grow produce such as quinoa, right here in the UK.
The study also found 44 per cent couldn’t say which countries tend to produce parsnips, 56 per cent weren’t sure where kale is grown and 58 per cent don’t know where leeks are mostly harvested.
Similarly, four in 10 aren’t sure where apples originate from, 43 per cent don’t know where onions come from and 47 per cent aren’t clear where cucumbers stem from.
The research also found the typical UK adult only eats three of the five recommended portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
And 54 per cent admit they don’t consume enough of them, with the average Brit spending just £8 a week on vegetables.
Further to this, around half find it difficult getting ‘enough’ carrots, tomatoes and peas into their diet. A quarter even admitted they will only eat vegetables if they are mixed into a sauce or are part of a soup.
And the Crosse & Blackwell research, carried out through OnePoll, found it’s a similar story for grains such as rye, spelt and wheat, with 56 per cent admitting they don’t eat sufficient amounts.
Towey added:
Consumers continue to search for products to enhance their busy and often hectic lifestyles. That’s why we’ve introduced four new variants with ingredients such as quinoa, kale, grains and pulses.
These innovative new flavours are a unique addition to the ambient soup market and make healthy eating on the go accessible and simpler than cooking from fresh.
The new Crosse & Blackwell variants, which contain British sourced ingredients, are available from ASDA, Waitrose and Morrisons.
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A former emo kid who talks too much about 8Chan meme culture, the Kardashian Klan, and how her smartphone is probably killing her. Francesca is a Cardiff University Journalism Masters grad who has done words for BBC, ELLE, The Debrief, DAZED, an art magazine you’ve never heard of and a feminist zine which never went to print.