Linton Growing joins Driscoll’s nursery network

Containerised plant propagation business Linton Growing has joined the nursery network of Driscoll’s following the American soft fruit company’s acquisition of Berry Gardens in late 2022.

Linton Growing was launched by Clock House Farm, a member of the Berry Gardens grower cooperative, in 2020. It grows premium soft fruit plants and trees and primarily supplies Clock House, as well as other berry producers.

Linton Growing announced that it was forging an official partnership with Driscoll’s following the completion of a “stringent” audit process.

It joins an elite club – there are currently only five UK plant propagators the Driscoll’s nursery network.

Feedback from the Driscoll’s team was positive, with Linton Growing scoring above the 75% required as a minimum to join the nursery network. Auditors commented on the professional environment and the level of openness during the assessment.

As a partner nursery, Linton Growing will provide Driscoll’s with plants for its broad network of growers, including Clock House Farm, in line with the quality control and sustainable farming protocols shared by both businesses.

“By securing plant stock grown by Linton Growing, Driscoll’s will be accessing a dedicated production centre for the UK, meaning that sustainability and plant health targets can be met as plants will be grown locally rather than transported from the continent,” said a spokesperson for Linton Growing.

“Through its alignment with Clock House Farm, the staff at Linton Growing have a strong understanding of the pressures and requirements of UK growers and look forward to forging new commercial relationships under the business’ ethos of working closely with grower partners to produce the most suitable plants.”

Linton Growing is currently running a test trial for Driscoll’s relating to the growing of raspberry plants and strawberry, with a view to going into commercial production in the near future.

Oli Pascall, managing director of Clock House Farm and Linton Growing, said: “Being acknowledged as a partner nursery by Driscoll’s represents an excellent start to 2023 for Linton Growing.

“We have a number of exciting plans in place to further drive the growth of the business and will be working hard to raise awareness of the significant benefits associated with sourcing quality plant stock from an established and successful UK grower.”