At the Extraordinary Berry Company, we have developed a patented system that allows us to grow outstanding quality British Strawberries throughout the winter.
Our Matrix-GS™ growing system produces both amazing fruit and also delivers transformational improvements in environmental impacts associated with the supply chains that our fruit replaces. This controlled environment, high-density technology easily translates to production in any moderate or maritime climate, where local production is typically only possible during the summer months, and compromises are made in terms of quality, availability or environmental impacts as imported fruit is used to fill the gap.
A big challenge – an amazing opportunity
In the UK, as in all maritime or moderate climate countries, you can typically grow strawberries for 6-8 months per year. Outside of that time, imported crops are needed to maintain supply for local consumers. These imports typically come with one or more compromises – poor product quality, inconsistent supply and/or significant environmental impacts.
As a result, the winter months are characterised by lower consumption of variable-quality strawberries and disappointed customers. What an opportunity – if only you could grow a delicious local berry in mid winter. Better for consumers, customers and the environment.
Matrix-GS™ Transformational, not Vertical
Our Matrix-GS™ technology meets the challenge of producing outstanding quality strawberries year-round.
Creating a 52-week local supply
In 2018, we set about meeting this challenge. After significant investment and 5 iterations of our patented growing technology, we are now able to do just that.
Why “Matrix” - we combine the benefits of horizontal and vertical growing in our glasshouse-base growing system.
This means we capture for free everything that nature does brilliantly, while giving ourselves the ability to intervene when more variable weather would otherwise compromise the berries.
Growing hydroponically in horizontal troughs gives us total control and consistency of the irrigation and nutrition for every plant. However, by stacking these horizontal troughs in a cleverly designed A-frame, we bring an element of vertical farming to bare. This increases our growing density to 3.5 times more than traditional methods – reducing land use, reducing operational costs and transforming the environmental impacts of our system.
How We GrowThe results
The quintessential taste of the summer, even in mid winter, while step-changing the environmental impacts of the imports we are replacing.