Thanet Earth, the protected crops subsidiary of Fresca Group, has moved into the production of leafy salads after the acquisition of Leythorne Nurseries near Chichester, which was formerly operated by Madestein (UK).
The 8.25 acre site south of Chichester features 27,000 square metres of glasshouses and will operate as Thanet Earth Lettuce. It will supply crops year round using a deep-flow hydroponic system, and existing Thanet Earth directors Pleun van Malkenhorst and Arjan de Gier are supporting the on-site operational team based at the site in Chichester in the set-up of the new business.
“Our new business, Thanet Earth Lettuce Ltd, is a strategic expansion into lettuce and an obvious addition to our current portfolio of premium quality, sustainably UK-grown tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers,” said Pleun. “This is an extremely exciting opportunity which further strengthens our position as industry leaders in greenhouse production in the UK.”
Fresca CEO and Thanet Growers chairman Martyn Fletcher commented, “This is an important move by Thanet Earth to explore the opportunity to move into a new category to complement its current catalogue, which comprises specialty tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers.
“This complements the recent investment in our Smart Farm at DGM Growers, in which we are growing leafy vegetables in a vertical system within a greenhouse. It further emphasizes Fresca’s commitment to exploring high-tech growing systems, which are less capital and energy-intensive than the current wave of fully enclosed vertical farms. It aligns seamlessly with our vision to grow more protected crops and underscores our commitment to delivering unparalleled value to our customers through broadening our salad offering.”
He continued, “It is of the utmost importance that we continue to grow our own produce here in the UK. Losing a local grower could mean having to import more produce from abroad, which is not only bad news for the environment but also reduces our own food security credentials. That’s why we feel this is a significant opportunity – to keep producing our own food locally and feeding our nation.”