Strawberry grower S&A Davies has pledged to reduce polytunnels on its sites in Herefordshire.
By changing the growing techniques used in tunnels the company maintains that it can grow more fruit on less land and improve working conditions, as well as remove polytunnels from highly visible areas. S&A is proposing to convert all tunnels to the table-top method, in which fruit grows on a narrow platform raised a few feet above the ground.
Jan-Willem Naerebout, S&A’s welfare director said: “Table top means more plants per hectare, allowing us to produce the same amount of fruit in less polytunnels.
“We are looking at a 45 per cent reduction in polytunnels, and because picking would be made easier we would need 40 per cent less people.”
The plans, which would see significant changes at both of S&A’s sites in Herefordshire, were on show at a public exhibition at Brierley Court Farm last week. An exhibition at Marden Community Hall is taking place today (Thursday May 29) between 3.30pm and 7.30pm.
No comments yet