The Watercress Company launches soilless organic watercress

The Watercress Company, specialised in the cultivation and marketing of baby leaf and watercress, has launched a new rooted organic watercress and seeing a demand for a longer lasting watercress. James Harper explains, “In the days before refrigeration, watercress was packed with its roots left on, so we’ve gone full circle, marketing a product grown outdoors in mineral rich spring water and leaving the roots on. It’s a longer-lasting product, with a shelf life of at least a week when kept in the fridge.”

According to James, the firm is able to offer year-round continuity in the product’s supply, as it runs farms in three countries (in Dorset and Hampshire, Florida and Spain). “The organic variety is grown only in Spain and the UK, with Spain supplying during the winter months and the UK in summer.”

Regarding sales prospects, James said that, despite starting small, with a few hundred units per week of this hand-harvested product, in the long term the company expects to reach 20,000+ units, taking advantage of the fact that, unlike watercress grown on soil or peat, this one is bare-rooted and stays fresh for longer when kept refrigerated.”

James said that customer feedback has been overwhelming, since the product is also offered at relatively affordable prices. “The pots we are providing yield between 80 and 110 grams, and depending on the retailer, prices will range around £2-3 for a purely organic, hand-harvested product.”

James also stresses how, in addition to the company’s core line of watercress and salads, a considerable effort has gone to expand the business with all kinds of watercress-based products, including culinary powders, ice cream, chocolate and gin.

For more information:

James Harper
The Watercress Company | The Wasabi Company
Tel: +44 (0)1929 401407
Email: james.harper@thewatercresscompany.com
www.thewatercresscompany.com