Assurance Schemes
As part of our farm management policies both in the UK and overseas we comply with many different production standards and schemes, including Tesco Nurture, Marks and Spencer Field to Fork, Leaf Marque, Assured Produce Scheme, and Globalgap. We are also members of SEDEX which allows us to share ethical data with our supply chain.
These schemes set down various environmental standards and good agricultural practices, including such things as pesticide usage, pollution prevention and protection of human health, as well as specifying such things as shape, size, taste, variety and shelf life requirements.
The Watercress Company is always striving to improve and develop their management practices in conjunction with the schemes including such things as:
- Reductions in fertiliser and pesticide usage
- Overhead irrigation to reduce insect levels
- Shaker belts on harvesters to reduce insect contaminants
- Efficiencies in energy and water usage
- Enhancement of wildlife habitats