Nigel Bartle Cornerways Nursery

Nigel Bartle with Cornerways Nursery's tomatoes

Cornerways Nursery in Norfolk, England has picked its first boxes of tomatoes this year, with the produce heading for the UK's major retailers over the next few weeks.

'After the poor summer of last year we decided to plant our 2009 cropearly and hence got a good start for this year,' said Nigel Bartle,manager of Cornerways Nursery and chairman of the British TomatoGrowers' Association. 'It's great to see fresh tomatoes so early inthe year. This is a record for us and we believe one of the earliest inthe country.'

The fruit harvested comes from one of six different varieties grown at the group's site, including large on-the-vine tomatoes and sweet cherry tomatoes, and is sold directly to local customers and major retailers through The Greenery.

'The team at Cornerways produces incredible produce and has a great environmental story,' said Kevin Doran, managing director of The Greenery UK. 'We really see this as an example of the future of supply.'

Peak production is targeted for British Tomato Week, which takes place on 18-24 May.

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