Thanet Earth

A new plant virus called ‘Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV)’ is a disease first identified in Israel in 2014 and is capable of decimating both the quality and volume of tomatoes produced. To minimise the risk, Thanet Earth has strict biosecurity measures in place. For example, while filming Follow a Farmer, only one member of the film crew was allowed to go into the tomato greenhouse, dressed from head to toe in PPE. Looking ahead, Thanet Earth is also starting to grow tomato varieties like Vitalion, that are genetically resistant to the disease.

Thanet Earth’s careful planning and development in the non-farmed areas on the site has produced nature rich calcareous grassland environments attracting a wide variety of wildlife – from corn buntings and hares, to the rare small blue butterfly.

• Thanet Earth produces around 450 million tomatoes, 30 million cucumbers and 24 million peppers each year, and you can buy them at most supermarket retailers.
• A tomato vine can reach some 15 metres in length in a glasshouse.
• There’s an automated robot mounted on the outside of the glasshouses that cleans the windows.