The UK’s first cucumbers of the 2010 season were harvested on Monday at Thanet Earth in Kent.
The early vines were planted in mid-December and have borne fruit already thanks to good light levels in the Thanet area which seems to have escaped much of the severely inclement weather that has affected the rest of the UK, as well as the glasshouse complex’s combined heat and power system.
Early volumes over the next two weeks will remain relatively light, but product is already going into all the major multiples and onto eight farmers’ markets in the south of England. Quantities are forecast to build to a peak from the current plantings in six to eight weeks time.
A spokeswoman for Fresca Group, joint owner of Thanet Earth said: “We should soon see production levels reaching and surpassing last year’s volumes. New cucumber plants will be planted three times through this year to maintain a constant supply.”
Production at Thanet Earth accounts for some 10 per cent of all UK cucumbers and output is targeted principally at retailers in the south-eastern England.
A new focus for 2010 will be to increase supply to local retail outlets in particular independent farm shops in the area.
Capsicum and tomatoes are also grown on the three-glasshouse site, and planning permission covers a further four glasshouses yet to be built. The spokeswoman said: “We do not yet have a timescale for the construction of the remaining greenhouses, but hope that it won’t be too long before we see them built…Our focus this year will be on consistent good quality of products, customer service, even stronger environmental results, developing further links with local shops and finding ways of supplying wholesalers locally and considering format and content for our visitor centre.” These plans include a particular emphasis on wildlife and Thanet Earth hopes to encourage more butterflies into the area.
