A Celebration of Local, Seasonal British Produce
We’re thrilled to announce that fresh British asparagus is now in season and available to purchase through Rushton’s. Grown just over an hour from London at our parent company’s farm in Southminster, Essex, this is local, seasonal British produce at its finest.
As the leading London leading London fresh produce wholesaler we’re proud to offer asparagus grown by the family of our parent company S. Thorogood & Sons, a family-run farm with deep agricultural roots and a forward-thinking approach to sustainable farming.
The Story Behind the Spears
The Thorogoods have been cultivating asparagus for over 25 years, drawing on more than half a century of farming experience at their New Moor Farm. While the Thorogood family originally grew vegetables for London’s wholesale fresh produce markets, they made the shift to arable farming, and then began their journey into asparagus in the late 1980s.
Today, Mark Thorogood, who now leads the farm, supplies us alongside a select group of farm shops, delis, restaurants, and top farmers’ markets across Essex and London.
Regenerative Farming in Action
What makes Thorogood asparagus so special isn’t just the flavour, it’s how it’s grown. Mark has introduced regenerative farming techniques that prioritise soil health, biodiversity, and carbon capture:
No-till asparagus beds to protect soil structure and reduce erosion
Wider rows planted with clover, grasses, and forbs, creating habitats for pollinators and beneficial insects
Carbon sequestration through deep-rooted perennial plants
Clover as a natural nitrogen fixer, reducing chemical fertiliser use
Electric harvesting platforms to lower the farm’s carbon footprint
Composting of all waste, including asparagus offcuts
Solar panels and water recycling systems in the packhouse for energy and resource efficiency
The result? A sustainable, flavour-packed spear that reflects care for the land it comes from.
Now Available: Thorogood British Asparagus
This year’s asparagus season runs May through June – and the first deliveries have just landed. Expect tender spears, intensely green and full of clean, grassy sweetness. Perfect grilled, roasted, or served simply with butter and sea salt.
If you’re a chef, retailer, or food buyer looking for truly seasonal, local British produce, now’s the moment to feature asparagus at its peak.
Fresh from the field, ready for your menus!
