Farmers are welcoming a new device that can measure each individual cabbage by size to ensure only the best

Farmers think they’ve finally found a way to get young people excited about Brussels sprouts – by making sure they’re all the same size so they can be cooked evenly.

To help them choose the right sprouts, the bosses at R&K Drysdale, one of the UK’s largest cabbage growers, have invested in a high-tech sorting machine nicknamed the Sproutatron.

Working with Tesco to supply around 70 per cent of its sprout, Drysdale uses the machine – which looks like some sort of device that could be in a Wallace & Gromit film – to precisely size the sprout at the push of a button.

They are more evenly sized in the packets, making the cooking process more even.

R&K Drysdale, one of the UK’s largest cabbage growers, has invested in a high-tech sorting machine nicknamed the Sproutatron.

A survey by Tesco found that the number of 18-24 year olds who claim to “love” sprouts has risen from 26 per cent in 2021 to 44 per cent this year

It means an end to the lottery that some people get small and overcooked mushy sprouts while others crunch through tougher big ones.

New milder and sweeter cultivars, notably Cobelius, were also introduced.

A survey by Tesco found that the number of 18-24 year olds who claim to “love” sprouts has risen from 26 per cent in 2021 to 44 per cent this year.

The Sproutatron works by taking eight photos of each sprout as it moves along the conveyor belt and grading it to a predetermined size.

And it can photograph 25 sprouts per second. The computer controlled sorter then identifies all rungs of the same size.

These are sent to the same lane for processing. This means that the bagged sprouts are all the same size.

Sam Miller, Tesco Produce Buyer, said: “Thanks to the latest technology, our customers will be able to buy some of the tastiest and freshest sprouts.

“These machines speed up the sorting process, which drastically reduces the time it takes to get the sprouts from the field to our shelves.”

Gavin Milne, General Manager of Drysdale – based in Cockburnspath, Scotland – said: “We work closely with seed houses on variety development and flavor with the aim of eliminating varieties that are more bitter than others.”

Around 25 percent of the annual consumption of Brussels sprouts occurs at Christmas. Tesco expects to sell around 1.5 million kilograms of sprouts in the two weeks leading up to the big day.

They are so named after becoming popular in the Belgian capital in the 16th century, but originally come from Iran and Afghanistan