Perthshire estate picks up farm of the year award

The Co-operative Farms’ team in Blairgowrie, Perthshire, is celebrating after being named Farm of the Year at the business’ annual conference in Kent.

Douglas McTaggart, Farm Manager at Blairgowrie (pictured fourth from right) holding the award, as well as Kate Jones (far right), Head of The Co-operative Farms, who presented the award

Douglas McTaggart and his team at Rosemount Farm beat off tough competition from Co-operative farms in Louth and Ashby to win the accolade, which was voted for by colleagues at the event held at the Ashford International Hotel in Kent.

Over the last year Blairgowrie has overcome several challenges, including poor weather, which saw almost 10 acres of strawberry poly-tunnels damaged by gale-force winds, to meet peaks in demand, such as during Wimbledon, while also increasing its yield and reducing costs.

Douglas McTaggart, Farm Manager at Blairgowrie, said: “Winning Farm of the Year is fantastic and great recognition for all of the team here at Blairgowrie. We’ve faced some tough challenges this year, but the team always pulls together and works hard to get the job done and consistently delivers high-quality produce.”

The Blairgowrie estate has been farmed by The Co-operative Farms since 1952, and grows a number of crops including strawberries, carrots and potatoes, spring barley, rapeseed, wheat and winter barley.

Blairgowrie hosts The Co-operative Farms’ ground-breaking Habitat Heroes project, which is working to protect red squirrels on the estate. Last year the team put up “reds-only” feeding boxes to help supplement the squirrels’ diet, and there have been several sightings of the iconic species on the farm over the last 18 months.

It is also part of the award-winning “From Farm to Fork” scheme, a nationwide initiative aimed at giving schoolchildren a greater understanding of the outdoors and an understanding of farming.

Kate Jones, Head of The Co-operative Farms, added: “Congratulations to all the team at Blairgowrie on winning this award, which is in recognition of all their hard work and commitment over the year and is thoroughly deserved.”