Huge areas of one of Britain's biggest salad growing hubs will be replaced with housing estates as growers give up in despair and cash in their land. The Lea Valley, also known as the cucumber capital and Britain's salad bowl, is one of the diamonds of the UK's embattled horticultural sector. The Lea Valley Growers Association (LVGA), seeded through an area running across Greater London, Essex, and Hertfordshire, comprises more than 180 hectares (450 acres) of glasshouses run by 80 growers. The valley should be a jewel in the crown for a country concerned with homegrown industry and food security. "Twenty growers have permission for housing, representing 100 acres, and another 10 have permission to develop their 50 acres for light industrial uses."

Source: The Guardian September 08, 2022 12:10 UTC