Family company WS Bentley [Growers] Ltd has been awarded the prize of Best Grower for its And Sow On range of sprouting seeds and beans at the 2008 Yorkshire Post Taste Yorkshire Awards.

The award was presented at a ceremony last week as part of the York Festival of Food and Drink. The winning And Sow On range consists of several varieties of sprouting seeds and beans, which are sown, nurtured, grown, washed and bagged to ensure maximum freshness and shelf life, by mother-and-son team Tineke and Jan Bentley.

Jan Bentley, managing director of the company said: “This has been a terrific year for us as we only started to produce the new crops nine months ago. We have a dedicated state-of-the-art, specially designed operation and are thrilled that the quality and innovation of the range has been so recognised and rewarded, even at this early stage.”

The range is stocked in selected Co-op and Spar stores as well as in Yorkshires’ Waitrose outlets, and was recently given a gold star award by the Guild of Fine Foods.

And Sow On has also been shortlisted for two of the Deliciouslyorkshire Awards ¬- one for innovation and the second for fresh produce - which will be held in November.

“Our varieties of sprouting seeds and beans are all grown with nothing added but water, producing just plain goodness,” added Jan. “It is very satisfying for us to know that our hard work has paid off and are now recognised as one of Yorkshire’s finest fresh food producers.”

The business launched more than 50 years ago as a market gardener, growing and selling spring onions, beetroot and radishes in Gomersal, West Yorkshire. In the early 1960s, salad cress was added and gradually took over its entire operation. It now supplies its salad cress to supermarkets, wholesalers, distributors and caterers, and has a total production run of more than nine million punnets a year.

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