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Hello, this is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English.

I'm Neil.

And I'm Sam.

Calettes, collie shoots and tender stems.

Can you guess what they are, Sam?

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

Ah, yes, well, good guess, but in fact, the truth is even stranger.

Their 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.

The hybrid collette, for example, is a mix between kale and a Brussels sprout.

Tender stems are a mix of traditional broccoli with the type of Chinese kale.

And collie shoots are small green stems with mini-collar flower 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.

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