Mariella Fleming - Lettuce Grower

Little gem lettuces are grown for Budgens by Goldenplain on two farms around the rich Chichester coastal plain between May and October.

The farms consist of approximately 800 hectares producing over 13 million heads of lettuce per season. The produce is packed on large rigs in the field.

All the Budgens’ lettuce is harvested and packed in the field in the early morning so that it reaches the stores within 24 hours to ensure Budgens shoppers have the freshest lettuce.

The lettuce needs a lot of water to grow and the farms have their own large reservoirs to ensure they never run out.

As with all Budgens’ farmers the environment and wildlife are an important part of their day-to-day business and these farms have replanted hedges, established small woodlands and wild flower field margins to encourage wildlife, particularly endangered species.