Sam Thompson, the I'm a Celebrity winner, was brimming with excitement as he learned about the production of peas.
He was given a behind-the-scenes tour by Birds Eye, the UK's largest single vining pea producer, where he got to experience the harvesting and freezing process first-hand.
The reality star even had a go on one of the pea harvesters, known as a viner, before witnessing the peas being transported from field to factory in a race against time as they aimed to freeze the peas within two-and-a-half hours of picking.
The I'm a celebrity winner was treated to a tour around the factory following research that showed peas, along with broccoli, were British families' favourite vegetables.
Speaking about his experience, Sam, who partnered with Birds Eye for the project, said: "It's no surprise to see the pea is right up there as an ultimate family favourite. I love peas. Seeing the pea harvest, the freezing process, and the passion and knowledge of the teams, was an eye-opening experience."
"I don't think many people would know that these peas are individually given a good old squeeze to check if they're ready to be picked."
In a poll of 1,000 parents with children aged six to sixteen, peas and broccoli were voted joint top, beating potatoes and carrots. Other top picks for families included green beans, cauliflower and corn on the cob. However, celery and asparagus didn't fare so well, with kale being the least favourite.
A whopping 95% of shoppers buy frozen vegetables, with peas leading the pack (60%), followed by sweetcorn (40%) and carrots (27%). But when it comes to choosing their frozen veg, over half (51%) said it was down to value for money, while nearly half (42%) prioritised quality.
A significant 85% believed it was important for children to try new vegetables, with 31% believing sweeter tasting options were most palatable for them.
While nearly half (47%) believe it's important to learn where vegetables come from and a massive 77% felt it was crucial to grow them sustainably.
Sophie Simms, from Birds Eye, commented: "Our survey shows that what goes on behind the scenes in veg production is really important for families."
"Quality and sweetness really do reign supreme in what people are looking for and they want to know they're getting great value for money."
"It was a pleasure to show Sam our harvest and freezing processes and we're really pleased he got a glimpse into the care and precision that our farmers and teams put into producing our peas."
TOP 10 MOST LOVED VEGETABLES
- Peas / Broccoli
- Potatoes
- Sweetcorn
- Carrots – cooked
- Cucumber
- Tomatoes
- Corn on the cob
- Peppers
- Carrots – raw
- Onions
