Scottish Sea Farms Finalist in BBCs Food & Farming Awards 2010

Scottish Sea Farms Ltd, sole supplier of Lochmuir Salmon to Marks & Spencer, is pleased to announce that Geoff Kidd, the Marine Farm Manager at Loch Spelve is a finalist in this year's BBC Farming Today Farmer of the Year Category for the Food Awards.

Scottish Sea Farms Ltd, sole supplier of Lochmuir Salmon to Marks & Spencer, is pleased to announce that Geoff Kidd, the Marine Farm Manager at Loch Spelve is a finalist in this year’s BBC Farming Today Farmer of the Year Category for the Food Awards.

Managing director of Scottish Sea Farms, Jim Gallagher said: We are delighted that Geoffs passion for and commitment to responsible, sustainable farming has been recognised by being selected as one of three finalists for such a prestigious Award.

Geoffs experience and expertise were pivotal in Scottish Sea Farms decision to dedicate farms to the M&S vision for salmon. Through Lochmuir salmon, Scottish Sea Farms has been instrumental in providing M&S with a financially sustainable long-term partnership where its farming values resonate with the ethical, food safety and good eating aspirations of M&S customers. Geoffs farming concept is for a healthy, high-quality eating experience underpinned by extensive farming with least environmental impact.

After interviewing Geoff at the Loch Spelve farm, Food Awards judge Alex James was overwhelmed when he finally got to taste some salmon. Alex said the smell is absolutely beautiful, perfectly mouth-wateringly, deliciously juicy, pink, oily & close textured. Then as you break into it, it gives you a delectable delicate aroma. Fellow judge, Michael Jack, describes the salmon as Absolutely delicious, outstandingly good.

Geoff really is an ambassador for husbandry best practice in salmon farming. His farm is an outstanding example of a mature farming operation managed with skill & sensitivity. It thoroughly deserves to be the prevailing Crown Estate Farm of the Year and we all wish Geoff good luck in the BBC Food Awards said Jim Gallagher.

Always looking to the future, Geoff believes aquaculture can enhance biodiversity. This is illustrated by his latest project – pioneering the introduction of Wrasse cleaner fish to live alongside the salmon on his farm.

All three finalists in this years BBC Farming Today Farmer of the Year category have been interviewed on the BBC Radio 4 programme On Your Farm. You can listen to Geoffs interview by clicking on the link below to the BBC iPlayer: http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/vh9bw/

Results of the Food & Farming Awards 2010 will be announced on November 24^th at the BBC Good Food Show in Birmingham. The Awards programme will be on Radio 4 at 9am on November 26^th.