From silver back pumpkin in Hertfordshire to some of the world’s hottest chilli varieties in Dorset, this session will explore growing and marketing crops not usually found in the British context. Head grower at Woodoaks Farm, Rickey has ambitious plans to grow exotic fruit, amaranth, silver back pumpkin, mushrooms and micro greens. His Caribbean heritage and journey through different growing systems has given him interesting insight on what works. We will also hear from Woodoaks land manager, Rose, on why the collaborative model at Woodoaks is so important and its role in securing a route to market for ‘exotic’, ‘niche’ or ‘novel’ crops. Michael from Sea Spring Seeds will delve into perceptions around what ‘exotic’ means and how cooking is inherent to its definition. Now successfully selling the fierce Dorset Naga Chilli – how he got to this point learning from other cultures. He is passionate about creating a seed range for the vegetables and herbs used in Britain’s immigrant communities.