The Co-operative Group is to sell off its 15 farms.
The decision is a cost-saving measure, as, according to BBC News, The Co-op Group's losses for 2013 are expected to be greater than £2 billion, when announced on 26 March.
The Group's farms are mostly arable-focused, and only a small proportion of the food they produce ends up in stores.
A spokesperson for the group said: 'As part of the wider strategic review of all of its businesses, The Co-operative Group has decided that its farms are non-core and has started a process that is expected to lead to a sale of the business.
'In addition, it is exploring options for the future of the pharmacy business; this could include the sale in whole or part of the business.'
The Co-operative has been farming since 1896, and owns 17,200 hectares of land for this use in all, employing 200 people.
The alleged record losses, the BBC reports, stem mainly from the Group's bank, which was rescued at the end of 2013, together with a reduction in the value of the stores and goodwill it acquired with the Somerfield takeover of 2009.
There is also speculation that up to 5,000 jobs at the retailer could be cut by 2017, especially in head office and in support positions.
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