MEET THE FARMERS

Philip Benzie

I have been supplying Bartlett's with many varieties of potatoes for over 15 years, including Maris Peer, Vivaldi, Anya, and Rooster. We are located in the North East of Scotland.

Potatoes are our main business and they are grown both in Aberdeenshire and Morayshire. The early salads and some organic varieties are grown on the sandy soils in Moray, and main crop and other organics being grown in Aberdeenshire. In addition to this we grow malting barley, feed barley, feed wheat and carrots. We also have some ponds on the farm and an area of crop cover being grown for operation Bumble Bee.

In the summer of 2010 a 100 metre 2.3 mega watt wind turbine will be erected to generate electricity to run our potato coldstores and grading operations enabling the farm to run off renewable power.

I also get involved with local schools showing them about growing and various other potato operations on the farm and around the countryside.

I have been a committee member of our local Turriff Show for many years and have been elected Junior Vice President and am actively involved in the running of the show.