Asda intends to double the amount of carrots it sources from Scotland this year as it aims to become the first UK supermarket to remove foreign imports from all of its 259 stores, all year round.

Volumes received from Scotland will increase from 5,000 tonnes to 10,000t and it is hoped that these supplies will help to end the reliance on imported carrots for up to six weeks during the late-spring and early-summer closed season.

Asda has a 10 year-old partnership with 10 Scottish growers who grow carrots on the shoulder of the traditional UK season, enabling Asda to increase the number of UK carrots sold by more than 4,500t a year.

John Shoesmith, Asda's produce manager said: "By working closely with growers in Scotland we have developed a partnership that has delivered real benefits to both farmers and customers alike. We're hoping to extend UK carrot-growing even further this year and eventually we believe we can be 100 per cent self sufficient all year round." Sales of UK carrots at Asda have risen by nearly 10 per cent in the last year and Asda is on the lookout for more growers to join its partnership scheme.