Joe Button
Tregawn, approx 1,000 acres
Michaelstowe, Wadebridge, Cornwall
Since the age of 18, Joe has been involved on the family farm which he runs today with the help of his father. As well as potatoes – Maris Peer, King Edward, Estima, Exquisa and Piccolo – the farm produces wheat and barley. Joe has also started growing blueberries (approx 10 acres), after identifying them as a niche product with a healthy demand and a growing/harvesting season that complements his other crops.
“We joined up with Branston around 6 years ago. Basically I needed a packer and wanted to take more control and shorten the supply chain. It’s been a very beneficial move. Branston has offered me a market that I’ve been able to grow into and that enabled me to expand my acreage – we now rent an additional 500 acres of land and Branston has worked with me to help me achieve this.
“I do feel really positive for the future. We seem to have got over the hurdle of everyone wanting cheap food and there’s more of an appreciation of the cost of producing food. Consumers are also prepared to pay more to get better quality and they seem keen to buy British.”
