LettUs bring basil to Bristol! 

Bristol’s very own LettUs Grow — a B-corp certified agri-tech company developing advanced aeroponic technology for greenhouses and vertical farming — recently launched a new community-focused initiative called the Bristol Basil Co. Find out more.

Born from their R&D greenhouses at Heath Farm, Bristol Basil Co., is reimagining how fresh herbs reach local restaurants by delivering quality basil by bike to restaurants. They’ve partnered with Bristol-based Pedal Collective, a worker-owned cargo bike delivery service, to significantly reduce food mileage while simultaneously maximising freshness. 

Chelsea Dow, General Manager for Bristol Basil Co., explains that 30 kilograms of basil is harvested weekly on a Friday. She says, “it’s then driven a few miles down the road and you could potentially be eating this basil on your pizza that evening”. 

The idea behind this was simple enough: instead of letting trial crops from their aeroponic systems go to waste, LetUsGrow is now growing high-quality basil for select local partners – starting with two local pizzerias! – using the same cutting-edge technology developed for commercial-scale horticulture.  

It’s a hyperlocal, high-impact model that champions quality, freshness, sustainability, and local partnership, and lucky for us, it’s all rooted right here in Bristol.  

The Power of Local Partnership  

By working closely with local partners, Bristol Basil Co. are making it easy for restaurants to make the right choice for planet and plate.  

Bristol’s Pizzarova, which has four locations sprinkled across the city, trialed their first farm-to-table launch by using Bristol Basil Co.’s basil on their summer menus. They also collaborated on everything from behind-the-scenes farm visits to co-branded stalls and storytelling around the city. 

“I love meeting likeminded people trying to achieve the same goals as us on sustainability, innovation, and big flavour”, said Tom Castle, Head of Food at Pizzarova, when asked about the partnership. 

He added that, “Having locally grown basil is an amazing opportunity for us and is truly one of the best ingredients I’ve had the pleasure of cooking with. So, knowing it’s being grown with care by lovely people makes a huge difference”. 

Bristol Basil Co. will also be harvesting from May and welcoming Gigi’s Pizza Shop as their latest partner, who will use basil generously throughout their menu, including in their signature basil sauce. 

Why Sustainability Matters 

A significant portion of fresh herbs sold in supermarkets are imported by air, contributing to high carbon emissions. In the UK, roughly 95% of our fruit and 50% of our vegetables come from abroad, with our food traveling, on average, 1,500 miles before reaching our plates. And because our food travels such long distances, it’s no surprise that it impacts quality. Produce, including herbs like basil, are often picked early, which can negatively affect both taste and overall nutritional value.  

Chelsea Dow says, ‘By transitioning from an international basil supplier to our hyper local offering, and by using bicycles to deliver from restaurant to restaurant, we helped Pizzarova save a whopping 80,000 food miles last year!” 

Bristol Basil Co. are choosing to keep things local by growing basil in their Bristol-based high-tech greenhouses that use their Advanced Aeroponics™ system, which uses minimal water, zero peat, and no pesticides.  

Basil is Only the Beginning 

Bristol Basil Co. may just be starting out with basil, but it’s much more than that – it’s a meaningful step in the right direction for keeping produce local and working closely with the community.  

Over time, they plan to expand to include other crops and local partners as part of LettUs Grow’s mission to build a better food system. 

Get in Touch 

This June, they’ll be launching their first farm open day, so keep an eye on their website and Instagram (@bristolbasilco) for the latest updates! 

And if you’re a Bristol-based chef, grower or changemaker and want to get involved, contact Chelsea Dow by emailing chelsea.dow@lettusgrow.org. 

To stay updated on future events, job opportunities and news, don’t forget to sign up for the Bristol Good Food Update at bristolgoodfood.org/newsletter.