Bliss has longstanding experience in both supply chain and industry affairs
Red Tractor has appointed Veryan Bliss as chair of its Fresh Produce Sector Board.
The assurance body announced that Bliss – alongside new Poultry Sector Board chair Nick Major – will also join the Red Tractor board of directors and will play a key role in shaping the strategic direction of the organisation.
Bliss has three decades of experience across the global fresh produce supply chain, with expertise in growing, packing, technical assurance, innovation and governance for the UK retail sector.
For more than 20 years, she held senior leadership roles at Suncrop Produce, serving as both commercial & technical director and technical director, where she oversaw technical and ESG responsibilities from farm to shelf, led commercial and operational developments, managed brand protection and fostered grower and retailer relationships.
In 2022 she launched Food Intelligence Limited and continues to provide strategic leadership and advisory support across the sector.
Bliss has served on the Red Tractor Fresh Produce Board since 2019 and holds several industry roles, including as a non‑executive director of the Fresh Produce Consortium and The Andersons Centre, and trustee of the East of England Agricultural Society.
She has co‑chaired the Waitrose Agronomy Group, served on the John Lewis Partnership’s Leckford Estate Regenerative Agriculture Steering Group, and was elected as an industry representative to the Soil Association.
She is also a committed mentor and thought leader, supporting Women in Agriculture and advising agri-tech companies at the intersection of technology and sustainability.
She said: “I chose to apply for the fresh produce chair role because I care deeply about bridging the gap between growers, retailers, and consumers. It’s an opportunity to help shape assurance that is proportionate, progressive, and genuinely supportive of the people who produce our food.
“I see Red Tractor as a shared platform for trust and progress, and I wanted to help ensure it continues to work with growers to deliver assurance that genuinely adds value.”
Red Tractor chair Alistair Macintosh said: “We are delighted to welcome Nick and Veryan to their new roles. They bring complementary experience and deep sector knowledge that will strengthen Red Tractor’s ability to support producers and supply chains while maintaining the trust consumers place in our assurance.
“Their leadership will be invaluable as we continue to evolve our standards and deliver value for British farming and food.”
