Growing For Flavour - Flavourfresh Salads

Every crop, every time

Every crop is grown with flavour at its core. Refining and developing our growing methods to ensure this over the years means every Flavourfresh crop of tomatoes, strawberries and blackberries is bursting with intensely rich flavours, looking plump, juicy and mouth-watering.

Flavourfresh Salads is proud to be a LEAF MARQUE approved grower and as such we demonstrate growing methods that meet or exceed current environmental and sustainability standards.

Combined Heat & Power

CHP engines use gas to heat the greenhouses. The harvested/waste carbon dioxide is used to help plants grow and produce British tomatoes. Combined heat and energy plants produce electricity on site for distribution into the local power grid and the waste heat is utilised in the greenhouses.

LED Lighting

12,000m2 of lit glasshouse space enables us to supply British tomatoes 52 weeks of the year using “Green” electricity generated on site. Pink lights (a combination of blue and red lights) give plants the only wavelengths of light they need to grow.

Varietal Development

We run regular trials of new varieties. This allows us to source and select from around the globe, trial and test and add to the Flavourfresh family those with the potential premium flavours, textures and taste impact you would expect.

Thermal Screens

Preventing heat loss, we use thermal screening in the winter months to maintain a warm temperature across all greenhouses and reduce the need for separate heat generation.

Biological Pest Control

We utilise industry-leading biological methods wherever possible to protect our plants from pest and disease. This dramatically reduces reliance on chemical inputs.

Electric Vehicles

The Maintenance Team’s fuel-driven vans are being replaced with electric alternatives - perfect for the short journeys made by the team across our 4 sites. One in use, two more to come!

Computerised Monitoring

Our high-tech computer system measures conditions such as water, humidity, light levels, temperature. This enables high precision growing, controlling irrigation and temperature based on what the plants need.

Rainwater Harvesting

We collect all the rainwater run-off from the glasshouse roofs. This means 80-90% of all irrigation water is harvested in-house and stored in our reservoirs, only needing to use mains water if the season is particularly dry points - and sometimes not at all if rainfall has been heavy.

Robotics

At the forefront of robotic trials, we are undergoing extensive trials using Xihelm technology. Setting the future standards of greenhouse development, this is the most highly advanced and ground-breaking grower technology in the UK.

Biodiversity

Wildflower meadows grow at each site, enhancing local biodiversity and the Three Owls Bird Sanctuary is a 2-acre wildlife reserve at Aldergrove. We harness nature in our Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programme, using natural pest control.

Compost Recycling

Our used growing substrate (coir) is used by local farmers, landscaping and compost firms as well as other growers in our local community. All material is 100% biodegradable.

Solar Panels

With solar panels on all sites, we have systems to convert the power of the sun into electricity - even on a cloudy Lancashire day!