Matt Gedney has been growing Tenderstem broccoli at Court Lodge Farm in Southfleet, North West Kent, since 2005.
Much of what we eat has been imported but Matt saw the opportunity for UK-grown Tenderstem broccoli, which he proposed to Marks and Spencer. They liked the idea and so the story begins…
The early bird
I tend to be in the office shortly before 6am answering emails before heading to the packhouse. My farm manager and his crews will be well under way and we usually have a conversation around 8am to see how harvest is going.
Tenderstem by its very growing nature ensures the customer gets a fresh product, day in day out. The crop won`t wait, so if we miss picking the fresh stems at the correct maturity, we waste it. It has to be harvested at the right time every day.
Once the stems are picked, they are cut to size in the field. The field trailers, containing the harvested stems, will normally arrive at the packhouse by 10am. We carry out a quality control check to ensure they meet M&S’s specification and pack the product into various presentations.
By 1pm the Tenderstem is on its way to the local M&S depot for distribution. Fresh as a daisy!
Afternoon
The rest of my day is spent dealing with other products that pass through our high care unit. At Court Lodge Farm we also grow salad onions, runner beans, Boston fine beans, broad beans, rhubarb and wheat, so there is always a lot to do. To manage the Tenderstem harvest alone, I have to take on an additional 18 local staff which means my staffing levels rise to 110!
Like any farmer, I’m always watching the weather. Tenderstem likes a particular amount of sunshine and not too much rain, so it can be a challenging crop to grow in England. Next year is looking good and we hope to be using Tenderstem in some exciting ready-to-cook mixed packs.
Evening
In the evening, I receive our M&S order which I use to arrange the Tenderstem harvest team. Planning is a big part of my life as we pick and pack on the same day. I then retire knowing the harvesting crew are ready to go without needing to catch up with me.
Top tips for eating
You can use it in stir fries, or blanch until tender and use in salads, pasta dishes and risotto or simply serve with dips. Stir frying or quickly steaming Tenderstem broccoli is the best way to keep all the nutrients intact. Visit the Tenderstem website for more recipes.
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