LJ Betts on regenerative food production

Have you seen our article with Market Food "Thorogoods backs British regenerative growers"?

We spoke to Nick Ottewell, Production & Commercial Director at Laurence J Betts, a longstanding supplier we've been collaborating with since the 1980s. Situated near West Malling, Kent, they are a long-established family-run business producing various salad types, including whole head, baby leaf, multi-leaf salads, and cereals. In our conversation about the importance of regenerative food production, he stressed their dedication to regenerative and sustainable farming. “The more organic matter (carbon) we have in our soils, the more resilient we are to the extreme weather events happening more frequently.”

Throughout the fresh produce supply chain, both companies and individuals bear the responsibility of preserving and safeguarding the environment. Nick urged, “Farmers growing and supplying fresh produce could be bolder with their regenerative farming practices.” Nonetheless, it's worth noting that embracing practices such as reducing chemical usage may heighten the risk of pest-related damage. Consequently, the advancement of regenerative farming may hinge on consumers embracing slightly "more rustic" produce options.