Sainsbury's is increasing the amount of British-grown tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers it sells as extreme weather continues to put pressure on crops grown overseas. The supermarket has signed two new 10-year agreements with UK growers Evesham Vale Growers and Thanet Earth in a move designed to strengthen its supply of salad vegetables and reduce its reliance on imports.
The decision comes after recent heatwaves and changing weather patterns highlighted the risks facing crops grown in warmer parts of Europe and North Africa, where many supermarkets source fresh produce. Sainsbury's said British-grown tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers already play a key role in its fresh food range, but investing in more home-grown produce will help create a more reliable supply for customers throughout the year.
One of the biggest changes will see British cucumbers available for longer than ever before. Thanks to its partnership with Thanet Earth in Kent, the supermarket expects to extend the British cucumber season into the winter months, rather than relying as heavily on imported produce.
The crops will be grown at the UK's largest single-site glasshouse complex, where lighting, heating and carbon dioxide levels can be carefully controlled to create the right conditions for plants, even during the darker months of the year.
Shoppers are expected to see the first results of the new agreements this summer, with the launch of Sainsbury's new Taste the Difference British Salad Selection.
Hannah O'Reilly, Sainsbury's Produce Category Director, said: "With our changing weather, it's more important than ever to find new, innovative solutions to make sure our customers can continue to enjoy the quality produce they want all year-round.
"Investing in more British production and supporting our suppliers to innovate is helping us build a stronger, more resilient supply chain in a category that has been impacted by weather-based shocks in recent years."
The move follows a series of weather-related disruption to fruit and vegetable supplies in recent years, with supermarkets looking to strengthen their supply chains as extreme conditions become more common.
