Andrew Burgess of Produce World has received the award of Associate of the Royal Agricultural Society for his outstanding contribution to the agricultural industry.
Andrew Burgess is Director of Agriculture of the Produce World Group, which has its headquarters in Peterborough and other sites in Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire. The company is the biggest grower and supplier of high quality vegetables in the UK. It focuses mainly on field scale veg production including potatoes, root vegetables, onions and brassicas.
Produce World farms over 5,000 acres with an additional 5,000 in joint ventures up and down the east of the UK.
Andrew, or Farmer Andrew as he has become known following his appearance on BBC Harvest last autumn, was presented with the award on 11th February during a ceremony at the House of Lords.
He said: “I am honoured to be receiving this award. I have worked in the agricultural industry for my entire working career and have done just about every job in farming.”
The selection was made by the Council for Awards of Royal Agricultural Societies, which recognises outstanding efforts in all aspects of practical farming, including research, economics, commercial and administration every year.
Andrew sits on the LEAF Board of Trustees as well as various Soil Association committees. He is heavily involved in championing and helping to steer the future of environmentally sustainable and organic farming. Andrew has also previously been a member of the British Carrot Growers Association and the Horticulture Development Company.
