Sky’s the limit for home-grown produce

Sky may be best known as a media company but at their Livingston site, which caters for 2,500 employees per day, they are showing that healthy local produce is a hit by growing much of their menu on-site in their very own polytunnel.

Buying local and using seasonal produce is a mainstay of sustainable procurement but actually growing produce on-site goes one step further. This is not only great news for the environment; it can also be cost effective for the business too. What’s more, Sky have also attained the healthyliving award, which is doubly good news.

Customers can go and view what will next be on the menu and this improves education and awareness of what foods are in season, as well as how food is produced. Customers are also more confident about trying new dishes because they have seen the plant literally grow from seed.

The polytunnel is the brain-child of William Thomson and Andrew Little who give up much of their spare time to produce fantastic home-grown fare and incorporate it into a healthy menu.

William Thomson, Executive Head Chef, said: “any home-grown produce is used in the restaurant and the customers really enjoy it. Our customers like to wander though the polytunnel on their breaks to see what is ready for eating, and some even have small plots.”

The herb garden features parsley, sage, thyme, rosemary, chives and basil and the aromatic coriander is used in favourite curries. Almost everything in the tunnel has been grown from seed and the tomatoes, in their many varieties, are thriving as are the cucumber, beetroot, courgettes and beans.

The winter crop brought parsnips and Brussels sprouts as well as oriental vegetables like pak choi, and this month root vegetables, peppers, chillies, garlic and salad vegetables have been planted. All these different types of ingredients have and will be incorporated into Sky’s menu.

Cooking demonstrations are also on offer using the vegetables and herbs grown in the polytunnel, and that has boosted interest in the menu. Some of the customers’ favourite polytunnel dishes include spinach and red onion salad, rhubarb crumble and vegetable and chicken risotto topped with a stuffed courgette.

Sky have recently built another polytunnel at their Dunfermline site, so staff there can also look forward to lots of fresh home-grown produce.

Other healthyliving award establishments who also grow some of their own produce include Sir Walter Raleigh Hot Potato Company and HMP Addiewell.

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