Meet the Ambassadors

South West – Reuben Collins

Reuben is the fourth generation of potato growers on his family farm in Cornwall. He produces fresh potatoes for a major supermarket chain as well as his local farm shops. Reuben likes nothing more than a filling jacket potato for dinner as a quick and healthy meal with no effort. He has also spent time at community food and farming events promoting his produce and getting people interested in where their food comes from. 

Wales – Nigel Raymond

Nigel farms over 3500 acres with his family in West Pembrokeshire. The farm includes dairy, beef, sheep, arable and potatoes. Nigel, who is married to Collette and has a young son, returned to the family farm in 2003 after studying Agricultural Business Management at Wye College University. He has helped develop all sectors of the business and in particular, expand the potato enterprise up to 285 acres of salad crop and main crop potatoes, which are marketed through Puffin Produce throughout supermarkets in Wales.

South East – Matt Spanton

Kent-based farm manager Matt was born into farming and studied at agricultural college. He now runs a 3,000 acre farm in Faversham supplying all the major supermarkets with local produce. Brought up on potatoes Matt is keen to show everyone how easy it can be to fit potatoes into busy meal times and believes they can be used in hundreds of different ways.

Western England – Angela Cliffe

Originally from Lancashire, Angela studied for an HND in Agriculture at Harper Adams University College spending a year on placement working in Tasmania. She joined Greenvale AP in 1986 working with growers in the West Midlands and further a field in all aspects of producing the crop for the retail market. In 2000 she moved to the South West to manage the South West grower base producing earlies, salads and some maincrop storage material. From 2004 to 2011 she was involved in the direct delivery of new potatoes into local Sainsburys stores from the farm. In January 2014 after 27 years with Greenvale she moved to Branston Ltd based at Ilminster in Somerset. Working with the grower base again on all aspects of the crop to produce quality, sustainable produce for TESCO and other customers. 

East of England – Kevin Stokes

Kevin has been farming at Farndon Fields, Market Harborough in Leicestershire since 1983. Initially, the farm consisted of 140 acres, made up of three acres of potatoes that were sold in the locality. Today, the farm area is 550 acres with a thriving farm shop business, employing over 50 people. Six varieties of potatoes are grown on 40 acres for sale through the farm shop 12 months of the year.  The farm shop won an award for ‘farm shop of the year’ in 2008.

East Anglia – Mike Newling

Mike is a working director alongside his father on the family farm at Four Gotes, Cambridgeshire. The family have been farming in the area for 100 years and Mike’s late grandfather, John was one of the first growers of Maris Piper. Potatoes are grown for the fresh chipping markets, as well as some London restaurants, whilst others go to Ireland and Scotland via various outlets. He aims to continue building good relationships with local merchants and strives for high quality chips for end customers.

Yorkshire – Amanda Cornforth

Amanda works on the 250 hectare family farm on Sutton Bank in North Yorkshire with her father Derek, boyfriend Matthew and mother Susan. Prior to this, Amanda was a journalist for seven years after graduating from the University of Sunderland. The farm has been owned by the Cornforth’s since 1922 and they have been growing high-grade seed potatoes for 10 years, planting around 30 hectares each season, and also grow mini-tubers. Amanda breeds Angora Goats and is a rally driver in her spare time.

North West – Robin Cropper

The Cropper family have grown and sold potatoes for the past seven generations. Robin runs the 488 hectare farm in Ormskirk, Lancashire with his brother, John, producing fresh potatoes for chip shops in nearby Liverpool and Manchester. Most of the 6,000 tonnes they produce each year are consumed within a 30 mile radius of the farm – a fact they are extremely proud of. With three young children single dad Robin is keen to show everyone just how quick and easy potatoes are to cook with.

Scotland – Peter Grewar

Peter farms in both Perthshire and the Black Isle in family partnerships with his wife Lucy, his parents and his cousin, Euan. Grewar Farming grows over 1500 acres of potatoes, mainly for the supermarket pre-pack market, but also supplies the seed and organic sectors. Peter and Lucy have two young children, Charlie and Eve, and the family eat potatoes every day. Peter is keen to promote potatoes as the ‘super’ food that he believes they clearly are. Peter is also a part time ski patroller at Glenshee.

North East – Mark Robson

Mark’s family have been farming in Northumberland since 1923. Mark farms at Wooler and works in partnership with his parents at Kelso on another farm that includes a seed operation. All together Mark farms 1,200 acres across the two sites. Mark supplies various outlets, including pre-pack for retail markets, co-operatives, processing for crisps, salad potatoes and seed. Mark and wife Sarah believe in cooking healthy wholesome food for their family of three children.