Tom Amery from The Watercress Company, said they have been pushing the health benefits of watercress for over 10 years, "Sales started to decline around 12 years ago and it was no longer part of the UK day to day diet. This has now changed and interest continues to increase. It is not a difficult product to market, the health benefits are well known, TV chefs have started to use it in as an ingredient in warm dishes as well as in salads and Waitrose recently did a big promotion which significantly increased sales."
The Watercress Company grow watercress on 56 hectares, mainly in the UK (May - Oct) but also in the US and Spain. The crop is grown entirely outside in watercress beds with gravel topped bases and when the seeds have rooted spring water flow is increased to encourage growth. The company has farms in England, Spain the US and is planning to expand production and markets over the next few years.
Watercress needs plenty of light to grow, Amery explains that due to the dull weather growth was a bit slower, but this was supplemented with product from the US, which can be in the UK within 24 hours of harvesting.
The traditional peak sales period for watercress is January and February due to the big health benefits.
For more information:
Tom AmeryThe Watercress Company Limited & The Wasabi Company
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44 (0)1929 401400
Mob: +44 (0)7795 343177
