Neil
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Neil.

Sam
And I’m Sam.

Neil
‘Kalettes’, ‘CauliShoots’, and ‘Tenderstems’… Can you guess what they are, Sam?

Sam
Well, they sound like the names of pop groups to me!

Neil
Yes, good guess, but in fact the truth is even stranger – they’re varieties of vegetable being grown in the UK by a new generation of fruit and veg growers. Forget traditional carrots, leeks and potatoes - vegetables today are getting a modern makeover thanks to breeding methods which mix two different plants to produce something completely new, known as a?hybrid.?

Sam
The?hybrid, Kalette, for example is a mix between kale and a Brussel sprout.

Neil
Tenderstems are a mix of traditional broccoli with a type of Chinese kale.

Sam
And CauliShoots are small green stems with mini cauliflower heads shooting out the side. These exciting new varieties, which look very different from traditional vegetables, are increasingly popular on farms, in shops and in restaurants across the UK. In this programme, we’ll hear all about these new vegetables and the people who grow, cook and eat them. And, as usual, we’ll be learning some new vocabulary as well.

Neil
Sounds good, Sam! But first I have a question for you. One of the first hybrids on sale in the UK was named, Cotton Candy, because of its sweet, caramel flavour. But is Cotton Candy:
a) a cherry?
b) a strawberry?? or
c) a grape?

Sam
Well, if it’s sweet, I’ll guess it’s a strawberry.

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