Farmers from Orkney, Laurencekirk and Shetland have today been named as winners in this year’s prestigious M&S ‘Farming for the Future’ awards, announced at the Royal Highland Show in Edinburgh.
The winners are:
·Young Producer of the year: Ross Mitchell of Castleton Fruit Farm, producer of soft fruits to M&S
·Innovation: Michael Tait, of family-run business Shetland Mussels Ltd
·Outstanding producer of the year: Arnold Mathers of Tormiston Farms in Orkney for the farm’s loyal supply of quality beef
The farmers impressed the judges with their commitment to the future of farming, from investment and welfare to engagement with the community and retailers and enterprising sustainable practices.
M&S Farming for the Future is a programme of initiatives which champions sustainability and innovation. The programme is designed to help farmers identify opportunities for improvement, increase their profitability and provide a sustainable supply chain that can continue to deliver quality and innovation for the long term.
The awards celebrate suppliers working towards important M&S Plan A commitments including becoming carbon neutral, sending no waste to landfill, extending sustainable sourcing, setting new standards in ethical trading, and helping customers and employees live a healthier lifestyle.
Steve Mclean, M&S Head of Agriculture & Fisheries, said: “Now in its eighth year, choosing the winners of our M&S Farming for the Future Awards in Scotland gets tougher every time. Each farmer’s commitment to innovation, best practice and future-proof farming really set them apart from the competition and I’m continually impressed by the effort that our farmers go to.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of our winners for their forward thinking approach and dedication to farming excellence. They have all demonstrated a real drive to go the extra mile both in the quality of produce and their approach to sustainability. We’re delighted to be honouring our three winners at the Royal Highland Show.”
