Tomato harvesting at John Baarda Ltd’s 23-acre site at Billingham will start this week.
The over-wintered crop at the Tees Valley glasshouses, is one of the largest grown to date in the UK.
Sainsbury’s tomato buyer Clancy McMahon told FPJ she had already sampled some of the fruit.
“We’ll be selling Taste the Difference vine-ripened Aranca tomatoes from next week, the first samples of which were fantastic,” she said. “Production of Taste the Difference Elegance tomatoes on-the-vine will commence shortly after.”
Work at the site began in July and the lit glasshouse has been divided into six blocks of just over 15,000sqm.
“This really is a milestone in UK tomato production and we are delighted that after all the hard work David Baarda and the team have put in that the vision is being realised.” McMahon said.
The 23a of glass are the first part of John Baarda’s project in Billingham, which will, on completion of phase two, create a 38a facility.
Sainsbury’s has estimated that its continued commitment to sourcing UK produce means that its stores will be selling an extra £14 million of British tomatoes in 2006, compared to 2005.
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