Around the shores of Strangford Lough on the Ards Peninsula, the air is a little warmer. That creates good conditions for growing vegetables, which is what the Lyttle family has been doing for nearly thirty years.

The primary crop in the summer is salad onions (scallions) and in the winter, is leeks. These are grown, harvested, prepared, packed to specification and finally delivered by Roy Lyttle Limited to clients. Parsley and herb celery, (or Soup celery) are also grown for processors who produce washed and chopped soup vegetables and ready-made soups supplied to the major multiples across the UK.

They also grow a range of organic vegetables, including cabbages, leeks, carrots and parsnips as well as swedes and purple sprouting broccoli. Since 2017 they have been growing organic potatoes for independent retailers and boxed schemes. They are working to extend the season of availability of supply in order to reduce imports because consumers are becoming increasingly interested in where their food comes from and very supportive of local producers. A purpose built viewing gallery has been built to host visiting groups of school children and interested parties on tours of the whole vegetable production process.

Roy and his wife and business partner Sheila now host school and community visits to educate people about where their food comes from and how other professions benefit from local producers.

They have recently extended the range to include Chives and Beetroot.