Growing greener: Kent's vast Thanet Earth glasshouse complex is employing cutting-edge control systems to ensure production is as effective and sustainable as possible

摘要

The first fresh produce from Thanet Earth, the UK's largest glasshouse complex, hit retail shelves this month. In little over a year, Thanet Earth Marketing - a joint venture company between fresh produce supplier Fresca and site growers - has turneda former 91 ha cauliflower farm near Birchington, east Kent, into an ￡80m modern glasshouse facility. At full production it will produce 2.5 million fresh tomatoes each week alongside volumes of cucumber and bell pepper, boosting total UK salad production by 15 per cent. Pepper and tomato crops were first planted in early January followed by cucumbers later in the month, with crops all coming online in early March.