GO STRAIGHT TO THE GROWER

TRADITIONAL METHODS

We support growers who continue to farm according to traditional methods, not just because the resulting produce tastes better. Many of these practices along with the plants and systems that depend on them are dying out. We see them as incredibly valuable pieces of our human heritage.

Robert is the fourth generation of the Tomlinson family to traditionally force rhubarb in West Yorkshire. The process is long and intense but produces spears so exceptional that the region has been dubbed The Rhubarb Triangle. Robert's innate skill and artistry is a valuable piece of the UK's flavor and food heritage.

ACCESSIBLE SCALE

We believe that growers can produce at scale without depleting the earth’s resources, a farming model we've called Accessible Scale. Growers specialize in a single plant, or just a few plants, but commit to the care of the land, biodiversity, flavor and nutrition above all else. This model is scalable by nature of its specialization but does not harm the land in the way that intensive monocropping would.

The Bautista family has been growing dates organically in the Coachella Valley, California, for 20 years without chemicals, without big machinery, and with an unwavering focus on quality. Even as they scale, flavor remains their barometer for success.

BIODIVERSITY

Biodiversity is the variety of life on our planet. Our growers actively encourage bacteria and fungi, grasses, trees, insects and mammals on their land: all working together as part of one vibrant ecosystem.

Chris and Helen grow an incredibly diverse selection of vegetables on their one-acre farm in the mountain ash forests of the Yarra Ranges. Committed to chemical-free, organically-led cultivation, they rapidly turn over their beds and plant a good deal of flowers to feed into the biodiversity of their farm.

SOIL HEALTH

Unhealthy soils are both a symptom and a cause of climate change, just as investing in soil health can be a tool for restoring climate stability. We look for healthy soil that absorbs and retains water, captures and stores carbon and houses the microbes that help establish nutrient-dense crops.

Set just under 3 miles from the beach, François’ sandy-silt, mineral-rich ground in Dunkirk is ideal for root vegetables. Silt is the key to rich and humid soil, making it productive, whilst sand gives taste and tenderness to the roots.

MINIMUM INTERVENTION

Working with the seasons means steering away from artificial inputs — lighting, heating and chemicals — and returning to the shifts we see in nature every day. On occasion, minimum intervention growers may use synthetic fertilizers, and pesticides as a last resort.

SEED SELECTION

Where yield, shelf life, and uniformity drive commercial seed breeding, our growers select seeds for flavor. Some preserve heritage varieties — safeguarding incredible flavors for the future. By saving seeds from their best-performing plants year over year, their crops become uniquely suited to their growing environment. Whether hybrid or heritage, complexity and diversity are our yardsticks for quality.

Raffaele grows his Cuore del Vesuvio Tomatoes from a seed that is over two generations old. Cut horizontally, and you'll see dense, rich and meaty flesh — characteristics Raffaele has perfected over the years.