Tio also has long term partnerships with farms in England and can supply UK organic vegetables for approximately 10.5 months of the year. To supplement the UK season Tio imports organic vegetables from Italy and Spain, and the company is always trying to extend the UK season further.
Unlike the rest of the UK, the North East of Scotland got off reasonably lightly with the weather, according to Stewart Miller from Tio, "the only slight effect was a lack of sunshine in the Summer months, resulting in a reduction in the swede sizes. Disease was not a problem, mainly because as organic growers we rotate the crops and only grow the same crop once every eight years in the same field."
Tio has been supplying TESCO directly for over 10 years, and is now the exclusive supplier of organic root vegetables to TESCO UK, providing carrots, parsnips and swede for the TESCO Nurture label. Along side this they have also launched the Bare Necessities brand, an organic range of 100% guaranteed pesticide residue free products.
To further diversify the company launched the Soil and Seed box, a choice of organic vegetables and fruit sold through TESCO online in the London area.
"The demand for organic vegetables saw a dip starting from late 2008 when the recession really hit, but it flattened out last year and is now rising again. To directly influence the market, we as an innovative company have made two major brand launches in as many years," explains Miller.
Tio also exports its organic vegetables to Ireland, Germany, Holland and Scandinavia, and according to Miller, "These markets and others like China are growing much faster than the UK, we will try to win more business but the demand is there."
For more information:
Stewart Miller
Tio
Tel: +44 1309 696040
Mail: stewart.miller@tio.co.uk
www.tio.co.uk