The unprecedented popularity of gourds this year has meant Waitrose has had to increase its orders of the gnarly veggies to keep pace with demand.
Joining the classic Halloween vegetable, a pumpkin for carving, twisted and contorted gourds are proving to be popular at the high-end grocer.
Gourds are part of the cucurbit family which includes pumpkins, watermelons, butternut squash and cucumbers. They are mainly bought for their quirky decorative appeal but can also be spiced up and baked or made into soups
“It’s no longer enough to have a lonely pumpkin on the doorstep. Our customers have been inspired by doorstep displays from the US and want to replicate their seasonal showstopping arrangements,” says Waitrose horticultural buyer, Samantha Brett.
“This is not just restricted to the doorstep – shoppers are bringing the outside in and decorating the inside of their homes too with colourful gourds, pumpkins and other seasonal produce – not just for a one-day Halloween wonder but for an extended autumnal celebration too.”
Waitrose gourds are priced £1 each and are available in a variety of autumnal colours.
