Marks and Spencer has announced a joint organic farming venture with the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service. Through the venture, a range of brassica crops and some root vegetables could also be tested for sale on an exclusive basis. The three year commitment at Stonechair Farm at High Mowthorpe, North Yorkshire will cost the chain £100,000 and the organic varieties will be chosen by the store after research into consumer preferences. Crops will initially include cauliflower, cabbage, sprouts, calabrese, and swedes. M&S is already testing 12 new varieties of organic seed potatoes where the potential has been proven. Dr Chris Brown, M&S agriculture technologist, claimed one of the first beneficiaries would be medium sized mixed farms which find it difficult to obtain practical information on conversion methods at a time when English growers could not keep pace with demand. {{FRESH PRODUCE }}

Topics