Thanet Earth is a triple gold award winner with the news this week that NSF CMi has confirmed its third glasshouse has won Tesco’s Nurture Gold Award.
All three Thanet Earth glasshouses now hold the coveted standard. Three weeks ago the site won gold for its Kaaij UK tomato glasshouse - the first issued since the more stringent aspirational standard was introduced by Tesco earlier this year.
The glasshouses are owned and operated by Kaaij UK Ltd, Rainbow Growers and A&A for tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers respectively.
To achieve Tesco Nurture Gold a grower has to go beyond standard requirements of just complying with accepted growing protocols and instead score 100 per cent in the audit to win gold. “It’s about demonstrating that you’re leading the industry with innovation and drive that get real results, that your staff are engaged in the processes and active in maintaining standards, and that you keep meaningful policies and risk assessments that are core to your business,” said a spokeswoman for Thanet Earth. “Particular areas in which our growers were praised included their sustainable use of energy, water and natural resources, their record on plant protection and fertiliser products, their prevention of pollution and their standards as an employer.”
Speaking about his award, Gert van Straalen manager for Kaaij UK said: “The team here has worked with great commitment to ensure that we meet and exceed the standards required of us on all levels. It’s great to get the recognition from Tesco and it’s a real endorsement from them of how hard we work every day to maintain our position as the best grower of tomatoes in the UK.”
Commenting for Tesco, technical manager Steven Deeble said: “This is a fantastic achievement by all three growers and clearly shows their desire to be industry leading. Attention to detail, sustainability and innovation were all key factors in achieving these Gold standards. By embracing the Nurture standard the growers, together with Thanet Earth have shown a real commitment to Tesco.”
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