Tweeting Tomato Growers: #britishtomatoweek was the trend to follow this year!
Secretary of State Owen Patterson & Alan Titchmarsh displaying tomatoes during British Tomato Week on the NFU Chelsea Stand
The week was launched with a very special event, the opening of a brand new state of the art glasshouse in Evesham. The new glasshouse, named FREDA, is the latest addition to the R&L Holt family run business and is situated at Sandylands Nurseries. FREDA is an 8500m² ultra-modern glasshouse with a diffused glass roof, inter-lighting with LEDs, and an energy efficient CHP unit. The site also boasts an annex with dispatch area and office suite.
The official opening was attended by over fifty guests from the local Mayor and prospective MP, to a number of other key UK growers supporting this investment in the industry.
TGA Chair and Secretary, Nigel Bartle and Julie Woolley prepare to take their seats in Parliament
London was certainly ‘reddy’ for tomato week, Chefs in the House of Commons were cooking up a storm with fresh British tomatoes and created a fantastic display in the Debate Cafeteria where the Association met various members of the House.
A few miles up the Thames tomatoes were a key part of the medal winning NFU stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, where they were displayed by everyone from our own members to a couple of new recruits: Alan Titchmarsh and Owen Patterson the Secretary of State himself.
House of Commons display
Whilst fresh tomatoes made an early morning appearance at Broadcasting House, on radio and TV stations from BBC Radio Scotland down to BBC South Coast Radio people were talking tomatoes! On ITV’s Lorraine programme Celebrity Chef, Dean Edwards, created a delicious tomato tart for British Tomato Week.
Away from the corridors of power, everyone was able to enjoy fresh British tomatoes at selected tasting events around the country; shoppers were urged to look out for the British Tomato Week stickers on packs in store, whilst children in various schools received tomato tasters. During the week #britishtomatoweek trended on Twitter, the TGAs own site doubled in followers, and thousands visited the TGA website.
The Holt Family at the Opening of their new glasshouse
TGA Secretary, Julie Woolley said “In March this year we were delighted to win the Best Consumer Marketing Campaign at the prestigious national Grower of the Year Awards and a huge part of our consumer marketing activity takes place during British Tomato Week. It is the support from our member’s which makes this event so successful, whether it is covering a radio interview, driving fruit to Central London at 1am, hosting a charity event on their nursery, or wearing a tomato costume in Westminster, TGA members always deliver, just like British tomatoes do!”
For more information
British Tomato Growers’ Association
Julie Woolley, Secretary
Pollards Nursery |Lake Lane |Barnham|West Sussex|PO22 0AD
Tel: 01243 554859
julie@britishtomatoes.co.uk
www.britishtomatoes.co.uk