When Margate mum-of-two Vanessa Leppard found herself out of work, she took her food industry knowledge and her love of good nutrition to create her own business. Vanessa, 33, was struggling to find a new job, so instead took the opportunity to launch Margate Microgreens.
The former Charles Dickens student has taken on a unit/lab in Margate and kitted it out – thanks to help from dad Frank's friend- with lights, heat mats and shelving to nurture her micro-farm of food garnishes such as pea shoots, red radish and broccoli.
Officially opening for business this week with a ribbon-cutting by Margate mayor Katie Pope, Vanessa's products are already being snapped up by Lilies tapas restaurant in Cliftonville and Lafayette's in Margate and will also be on offer at the Bleak House market in Broadstairs on April 12 and Cliftonville Farmers Market on April 26.
Vanessa said: "I love the food industry and I thought I would take on the challenge of growing lovely food garnish for local restaurants and maybe try and get them into local shops. "I'm also doing farmers markets at Bleak House and Cliftonville this month and have Instagram and Facebook pages for any locals who want to make a super nutritious smoothie or have a great tasting crunchy sandwich.
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