We're proud to now be able to offer locally-grown pumpkins at all our stores in Northern Ireland for the first time.
We commissioned Loughgall-based Gilfresh to grow and supply over 50,000 pumpkins for our 16 stores in Northern Ireland – equating to 50% of our total requirement for the busy Halloween period.
Due to the unique conditions required to cultivate pumpkins on a commercial scale, we hadn't been able to source them in Northern Ireland before, and depended purely on stocks from specialist farms in England.
With over 50 years’ experience of crop cultivation, Gilfresh’s innovative team rose to the challenge and developed a growing programme to deliver the perfect size and quality of pumpkin.
The pumpkins are available now in our stores and Danielle Mitchell from Gilfresh said: "This is a very important and exciting first for Asda and Gilfresh and it highlights both the level of trust in our partnership and the expertise within our business.
“The crop was sown in June and since then, customers have followed its development as they pass our fields on the main road between Portadown and Armagh. We’re delighted with the results."
Adding his support, Billy Clelland, Quality Manager for Asda NI, said: "Asda is passionate about supporting our NI-based food companies and we’re always looking for ways in which we can help drive innovation and reduce food miles. Gilfresh is one of our long-standing vegetable suppliers and we’re so pleased they’ve helped us achieve this important first which will ensure the Halloween celebrations here are more local than ever!"
