For many years residents and tourists alike have seen the eerie glow above Hale Common, with many confused as to what it might be. Well, if you don’t know, here is what it is…
For many years Island Echo has received dozens of photos, videos and messages asking what the intense glow is above Hale Common near Arreton is all about.
Although it may look rather extraterrestrial, something of concern, a bit odd, it is in fact a perfectly common sight on the Island.
For those wondering, it is artificial lights within the greenhouses owned by APS Produce, or previously known as Wight Salads.
APS Produce are the UK’s largest supplier of British tomatoes, responsible for approximately 30% of total UK production.
The APS Group grows and supplies tomatoes, and other produce to multiple UK retailers.
Their glasshouses across the UK produce around 500 million tomatoes per year ranging from cherry to beefsteak.
The family-run firm, APS acquired Wights Salads in 2015.
In 2015, LED lighting was installed and covers 2.5 acres of tomato crops, the size of nearly 2 football pitches or the approximate size of B&Q’s car park in Newport.
With this 21st technology, it means tomatoes can be grown all year round, even in the middle of the winter to produce good quality tomatoes all year round.
There we have it, the reason why the skies around the Isle of Wight Tomato Farm site are generally pink, orange or red.
