First off, you are the Salad Grower of the Year. What does this kind of award mean to you and the company?

As a relatively newly formed family company, it gives us great pride to have been accepted as forerunners in an ever-changing and competitive salads sector. It has encouraged us to expand further our aspirations and developments for the future. From a marketing point of view, it has given us greater presence in the larger marketplace. Marketing our products well is a major factor going forward and this award supports this conviction.

What crops have you been working on that you feel give you a particular edge?

Our combined experience with developing continental lettuce types and supplying chicory in large quantities for the prepared salads sectors has served the local and national packers well. Also, following numerous visits to China, we have developed oriental vegetables for the various ethnic populations in our large cities.

Our latest development into selected baby leaf products, along with the expansion of the oriental products, enables us to expand our marketing window. I believe you can never say you’ve “nailed it” as that is the moment you lose your edge. It is this relentless pursuit in satisfying our customers’ needs that has created a package that gives us a leading position in the market.

How important is it to diversify into different produce?

Diversification is the underpinning success of our company to date. We are determined to keep success going forward. Our awareness of the wider European market is active and our vision is not restricted to our little island in the Atlantic Ocean. We are aware of the changes in the weather patterns that could well lead to being able to grow new crops.

What are the strengths of the industry in the Evesham area? What advantages do you get from operating in such a fresh produce hub?

The geographical position of Evesham gives us many advantages. Our weather, with its micro-climate in the river valley between the hills, enables us to produce earlier and later crops.

Our central UK position also gives us a greater logistical advantage in responding to customers’ demands at short notice. Likewise, we are able to get very rapid and positive responses from our suppliers of seeds, young plants and other supplies.

With our intensive production, supply of good labour is essential and the central UK position makes it a good place for the seasonal workforce to live and work.

Have you benefited from the trend towards local and British product?

Yes, our investment in and expansion of our polytunnels has needed the full support of the local councils in going forward. These tunnels enable us to produce quality British salads over a longer season, cutting back on the need to import. We also pride ourselves in being able to supply our products fresher to the packers than from many parts of the UK supply chain. Being central to many large population centres, our direct sales customers are finding many people travel greater distances to buy local fresh produce.

What are the main challenges you think the salads sector faces?

In these difficult financial times, we have to be ahead of others in innovation to help hold down our costs. We have also to keep convincing our customers that our product is worth that little extra with our service and quality. Quality assurance of our products into the future, along with our quest for more environment-friendly production, should give us an edge in the marketplace.

This year we have seen growers battle rising input costs - is there anything you can do as a business to deal with these cost elements that are out of your control?

Our total management dedication to keeping the company going forward motivates us to look carefully at every cost and opportunity to reduce them. It is also essential to work in partnership with our suppliers to help them to reduce costs to us - after all, it is in their interest for us to be a successful business going forward.

Where do you see the growth and future in the salads sector?

Everyone in our company is aware that the market needs quality and new variations. Multileaf types are very interesting; people are much more aware of healthy eating and excessive waste, which also fits well into the carbon footprint principle. With an overall warmer weather pattern, salads are going to be more acceptable for a longer period of the year.