Question 1

How does the vending machine work if I just turn up?

Accepted Answer

It's really easy,  instructions are on the payment terminal  but basically, you choose what you want, pay for it, and the locker opens for you to take your purchase. That's it.  Here's a little video so you can see for your self.

Question 2

Can I use cash?

Accepted Answer

No, sorry, for reasons of security and so our staff don't have to handle money, it's no cash. You can tap your card or your phone.

Question 3

What do you sell?

Accepted Answer

We grow soft fruit and lions mane mushrooms and  you'll be able to buy whatever we have in season and available.  We also sell products from carefully curated other local producers such as  honey, eggs, cream, cheese and jam. Current crops are listed on the crop and shop page but you can also follow us on social media for daily updates @berriesontap

Question 4

Do you do wholesale?

Accepted Answer

We do a tiny amount of wholesale to selected customers. We are not currently seeking any other wholesale customers

Question 5

Can I reserve fruit?

Accepted Answer

Not at the moment, sorry.

Question 6

Should we bring our packaging back?

Accepted Answer

No.  For hygiene reasons, we can not currently reuse our packaging which is entirely biodegradable within 6 weeks of composting, including the film lid. You can pop it in your kerbside recycling, add it to your compost heap , or reuse it at home.

Question 7

Are you organic?

Accepted Answer

No. Organic certification is a very specific thing that requires crops to be grown in contact with the bedrock. Our crops are all grown hydroponically in coir , and are raised above the ground for crop hygiene purposes and ease of picking. Growing hydroponically , we are also able to manage our water and fertiliser use to minimise waste.  We can not apply for soil association organic status for this reason.
 However, while we are not certified organic, we manage our crops through a system called integrated pest management – we use beneficial insects and organisms to combat pests and diseases. We weed our crops by hand, the old fashioned way and we maintain meticulous crop hygiene to reduce the need for any intervention.

Biological pest controls are very expensive, we spend thousands of pounds a year boosting our beneficial insect populations and we want to protect them, and our bees, both of which are essential to our growing system.  The very last thing we want to do is spray conventional insecticides, and our system has proven that, with patience, the beneficial insects will take care of the pests!

Question 8

Are greenhouses environmentally friendly.

Accepted Answer

Our greenhouses are a buzz with life. They need to be because without bees working hard to pollinate our flowers, we don't have any fruit. They are naturally warm inside as the soil warms up during the day and gives off heat at night. We don't use any additional heat apart from a little frost protection when it's very cold.

In addition, our greenhouses are on their second life here already - built from parts salvaged after the 1987 hurricane, they've been growing crops for many decades, and hopefully will continue to do so for many more to come.

Growing soft fruit under glass means we can protect the crops from bad weather,  which also reduces the risk of disease.  Greenhouses can be a very environmentally friendly way of growing crops efficiently - plus any electricity we do use comes from REGO-certified renewable resources such as wind, tidal and solar energy.

Question 9

Pricing

Accepted Answer

Our aim is to offer delicious, fresh fruit to our customers; fruit grown and sold with minimal impact on the planet, that is picked and packed by a  contented workforce, and a sustainable business.

You may get fruit cheaper in Lidl, but we believe you will not get better quality, anywhere.