Planet Farms has become the first supplier to stock vertically farmed salad in Waitrose.
Its Fresh Everleaf range is grown without pesticides or herbicides and is free from human touch until opened, “maximising freshness, quality, crispness and flavour”.
The range (rsp: £1.80/70g) includes four lines: Delicate Mix, containing a blend of red and green lettuce; Iceberg Lettuce; Vitality Mix, made up of “peppery” greens and red leaves; and Mixed Leaves, which have a “subtle sweetness and complex, satisfying texture”.
Planet Farms produce is moved from harvest to bag in under a minute using an automated growing system. The growing method also used 95% less water, 93% less soil occupancy and 96% less fertiliser than in traditional agriculture, the brand claimed.
The leaves can stay fresh in the fridge for at least eight days and there is no need to wash them.
“We hope the UK will love our pioneering Italian-grown salads, and experience crunchiness and freshness like never before,” said Daniele Benatoff, CEO and co-founder of Planet Farms. “This partnership represents our shared values of quality, sustainability, and innovation.
“We want to make sure that foods stay fresher on shelf, for longer, and contribute to reducing food waste. We believe that by combining technology with nature’s wisdom, we can grow better food for everyone – delicious, fresh, and respectful of the planet.”
This is the first time Planet Farms products are available in the UK and follows an announcement last month regarding a £25m investment into a UK-based facility to supply Waitrose directly.
The new site will offer 20,000 sq m in growing capacity, which makes it one of the largest vertical farms in the world.
No comments yet