The Firs Farm, Yorkshire is home to MH Poskitt Ltd, a family owned farming business based in the East Riding of Yorkshire specialising in the growing of parsnips and carrots for over 60 years. The land is ideal for these root vegetables due to the sandy soil.
The products are grown, washed, packed and distributed all from the farm to enable them to control all aspects of the production. MH Poskitt have been supplying Oliver Kay and associated businesses since 2009.
Grower Sustainability
Sustainable Farming Initiative
The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) gives farmers a choice of actions that reward and support sustainable food production while protecting and enhancing nature
Accreditations
BRC, Red Tractor and Leaf accredited
Water
Poskitts have a water treatment plant to allow reuse of water and are looking into trickle irrigation
We asked Guy Poskitt, Managing Director of Poskitts Farm and winner of Farmer of the Year 2012 Farmers Weekly, to tell us more about the business.
What does a typical day look like for you at work?
I live at the farm so I’m never at work – yet I’m always there! I’m usually in for 7.30am and finish around 6pm, but with farming you never really finish. It is a way of life not a job – I love it. Remember, if you enjoy your job you are never really at work.
What do you enjoy most about the industry?
Growing things, and the support of industry bodies such as the National Farmers Union.
Tell us an interesting fact about you and about Poskitts?
I was named Farmers Weekly Farmer of Year 2012. Poskitts point of difference is that we grow, wash, pack and distribute all our products from one site enabling us to control all aspects of production.
Talk us through your product(s) with reference to growing cycles, country of origins, time frames, impacts on growth etc.?
We produce over 50,000 tonnes of carrots every year from the UK and over 9000 tonnes of parsnips.
We supply carrots all year round, from mid-July until early May the following year, harvesting local crop. We then move north to Scotland as it is cooler and better growing conditions for the carrots before moving back into new season carrots in June which often come from the South of England. We supply Yorkshire and Lincolnshire parsnips from August through to May, with the first UK crop from the South.
What are the biggest challenges that you face in the industry?
Labour / land availability and of course the weather. Severe weather – including water scarcity, droughts, floods, storms and heatwaves – impacts growing conditions.
Do you have any innovation plans for the future?
Yes we are looking at more robotics in the packhouse to create more efficiencies.
Do you have any tips for our chefs?
Don’t overcook your carrots, leave them sweet and solid. As the season come to an end the flavour goes backwards, so treat them right.
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