A Highland carrot and potato grower has been crowned champion of champions in the Marks & Spencer Farming for the Future Award.
The international prize was decided by an online vote. Steven Jack, of Nessgro at Dalcross, near Inverness, topped the poll. He had faced opposition from four other UK farmers and an avocado grower in Peru.
Mr Jack said it was a “pleasant surprise” to have won the title, which carries with it a week-long placement on the agricultural leadership programme at Bedfordshire’s Cranfield Business School.
Mr Jack, 46, qualified for the final after winning the produce category in the Scottish section of the awards in the summer.
He was singled out then for innovation and the environmentally friendly methods he uses to grow carrots on 495 acres along the Moray Firth coastline. He has been at the forefront of efforts to extend the UK carrot growing season, particularly the baby carrot variety, Imperator, which makes an ideal snack. It was previously imported from Africa for six months every year, but now, thanks to Nessgro and Mr Jack, it is only shipped in over six weeks between May and July.
Mr Jack has also pioneered the production of multicoloured carrots in the UK after seeing them grown in the US as part of his Nuffield Farming Scholarship. He already grows golden and purple-coloured carrots, but is testing other colours at the moment, including pink and various different shades of orange as well as red.
M&S head of agriculture and fisheries Steven McLean said: “Steven’s efforts clearly resonated with our customers, as he secured the majority of our public votes. Our judges were particularly impressed by Steven’s entry and for the work that he and the team at Nessgro have done on producing innovative, high quality carrots and new potatoes.”
Mr Jack said his company’s vision had always been to create exciting new root vegetable products and formats, and not to be a volume and commodity driven business. “Our northerly location also demands we work hard to carve our a strong point of difference for our products. Backed with encouragement and commitment from the teams at Marks & Spencer and Manor Fresh we have the confidence to invest in trials and innovation, and these are key components towards bring new product ideas to fruition.”