Fresh Direct achieves LEAF Marque commitment
Achieving LEAF standards ensures that Fresh Direct’s growers are verified against a robust whole‑farm sustainability standard, driving continuous improvements in soil health, biodiversity, water and energy management to deliver more responsibly grown British produce.
Fresh Direct has now created a number of partnerships with suppliers to implement more sustainable farming initiatives, based on regenerative farming principles that aim to promote biodiversity and nature while producing food.
Pete Statham, head of European sustainability for Fresh Direct’s parent company Sysco GB, said: “Climate and extreme weather are making it increasingly difficult to grow food, and we’re committed to partnering with our suppliers to build resilient supply chains and secure the future of food.
“Our collaborations with three key growers aim to demonstrate initiatives that can improve commercial farming for biodiversity, soil health and the climate. If successful, this will allow us to share insights and learnings to enhance sustainability and resilience throughout the supply chain.
“It’s an opportunity to collaborate to help build a constructive dialogue around sustainable farming in the foodservice supply chain that supports nature alongside food production.”
The company is collaborating with Regen Future Co, the regenerative farming experts, to pilot projects with three of its progressive growers – FreshGro, Len Wright Salads and Barfoots. These growers provide a testbed, spanning a diverse range of farming systems and regions of the UK.