Spalding - at the Heart of the Fens

Last week we were privileged to visit Ample growers and partners around Spalding in Lincolnshire. Known as the Heart of the Fens, Spalding lies at the very centre of England's principal farming region, growing 40% of UK vegetables. The rich silty marshland and recovered estuary supports many plant nurseries, large-scale farms and packing factories.

Crops include potatoes, peas, carrots, wheat, barley, oats, broccoli, spinach, lettuce, cabbage, kale and Brussels sprouts. Much of this produce is destined for UK supermarkets, but significant volumes go unsold or wasted because it is deemed too big, small or wonky.

Ample is working with local growers and businesses to rescue and sell this surplus to institutional buyers including school and hospital caterers who don't care about cosmetic differences, but are looking for a great deal for nutritious and delicious fresh British produce.

PC Thorold's Produce

In a sector increasingly dominated by large grower-packers, Thorold's Produce is a medium-sized independent family farm in carving out a niche serving wholesalers and food service providers as well as large retailers.

The farm grows approximately 3000 acres of vegetables on some of the best arable land in Lincolnshire. They continually re-invest in the farm with recent enhancements to soil stores, nectar-rich crops for pollinators, owl boxes and hedge rows.

Integrated Crop Management (ICM) including forecasting models and pest trapping enable the growing team to maximize quality and yields and ensure that crops are harvested at the peak of condition. Strict production protocols underpin environmental compliance and food safety standards.

On site facilities include blast chilling and cold storage facilities with high humidity fogging to ensure optimum product freshness. Together with modern packing facilities for floretting, grading, wrapping and packing, produce packed at Thorolds is ready for retail.

Evolve Flowers

Evolve is so much more than a florist - the company operates as a wholesaler supporting British growers and retailers to reduce the carbon footprint and environmental impact of the flower industry.

Founded in 2017 by Helen Cambers, Evolve is a successful horticultural wholesale and design company and Flower School. Driven by its principles of sustainable business. Evolve targets unsold crops from across the Fens and East Anglia to rescue and resell high quality British flowers all over the UK.

Helen is an award-winning floral designer and qualified teacher. She advocates design with seasonal blooms sourced from local growers, capturing the essence of the moment to celebrate every occasion.

At Ample we are excited to be partnering with Evolve Flowers to develop the distribution of Ample produce in the east of England. With a local base we will be able to consolidate and prepare Ample Boxes and Ample Bulk produce for our customers with reduced mileage and more effective local deliveries.