Farmers in West Sussex have developed a revolutionary greenhouse system that allows for year-round strawberry production, potentially bringing fresh, British berries to supermarket shelves this Christmas.
Two farmers in West Sussex have developed a new growing technique for strawberries in the depths of winter, which could see punnets of the summer fruit line supermarket shelves this Christmas .They claim the breakthrough greenhouse system creates what they describe as a 'superior tasting' berry.
Between them, Wicks Farm, based in Ford, near Arundel, and The Summer Berry Company (TSBC) based in Colworth, near Chichester, have harvested 38 tonnes of the fruit for the festive period - 40% more than last year.The new system, supported by Tesco, requires 50% less water and yields 3.5 times more fruit per square metre to enable a constant supply of strawberries all year round.Explaining the vertical growing technique used, David Moore, managing director of Wicks Farm, said: 'This is grown hydroponically, with a water feed instead of in soil, in multiple stacked layers in an indoor environment.'This guarantees yields while improving the supply of healthy, nutritious food and minimising the miles involved in its distribution.'Tesco buying manager, Callum Baker, said the 'production breakthrough' will mean that lucky Tesco shoppers in West Sussex and surrounding areas will be able to offer delicious British strawberries this Christmas
Strawberries Greenhouse Hydroponics Christmas British Farming
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