Growing With Purpose: Giving Back, One Harvest at a Time

At LettUs Grow, our mission goes beyond developing world-class aeroponic systems. While we’re focused on helping growers maximise yield and reduce environmental impact, we’re equally committed to building a more equitable food system starting right here in Bristol. That commitment also takes shape in our community venture, Bristol Basil Co., where sustainability and social impact are grown together.

Turning trials into impact

In early 2025, we installed a new vertical farming chamber at our HQ in Bristol to power R&D on a variety of crops. Our focus: fast-growing leafy greens, like rocket, which help test and optimise our Advanced Aeroponics™ technology at pace. But trial crops often produce more than we need and no good food should go to waste.

That’s why, in line with Bristol Basil Co.’s values, Locally Grown. Sustainably Grown. Community Grown. we’ve been redistributing fresh surplus produce to local partners, charities and community kitchens. The result? Dozens of kilos of fresh rocket redirected to those who need it most.

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Here’s how that’s taken shape this season:

Spring-Summer 2025: Donation highlights

31 March – 22kg Rocket
Our first donation was shared between The Gleaning Network, Olio, and our neighbours at Pizzarova, as well as the LettUs Grow team. These groups helped rescue surplus produce from going to waste and deliver fresh rocket to homes, plates, and pizza boxes across the city.

29 April – 30kg Rocket
A larger harvest supported St. Anne’s House, a vital community space in East Bristol. The experience helped us improve distribution planning for future donations.

21 May – 25kg Rocket
All 25kg went to the incredible Soup Club, who turn rescued ingredients into hot, nourishing meals for vulnerable residents.

6 June – 40kg Rocket
We delivered our largest harvest yet to Coexist Community Kitchen, a vibrant space for community cooking and food education. While capacity issues meant only a portion could be used, the feedback was valuable for refining how we donate at scale.

20 June – 45kg Rocket
This donation went to FareShare, a national food redistribution network. They were able to take and distribute the full harvest to charities and schools across the region.

14 July - 50kg Rocket

The most successful donation went to FareShare again, to redistrubte the rocket all over Bristol and beyond.

Are you a Bristol-based food charity, community kitchen or social initiative interested in receiving surplus produce from our R&D operations?

We’re actively expanding our donation programme and would love to hear from like-minded groups. To register interest, please contact chelsea.dow@lettusgrow.org