Produce World Agronomy Manager is Top of the Crops
Produce World’s Strategic Agronomy Manager John Sedgwick (pictured centre) has won the title of Best Agronomist 2016 at the prestigious UK Grower Awards. The Produce World Group grows and supplies quality fresh vegetables. It is the largest supplier in the UK, providing produce into major retailers, food service and food manufacturing customers. Crops supplied by the group include potatoes, carrots, parsnips, onions, leaks, and garlic. As well as conventionally grown vegetables, the Produce World Group is a leader in the organic category.
John Sedgwick joined Produce World in 2014 following the acquisition of Fenmarc’s roots business. In his first year John has re-energised the agronomy function, delivering more effective crop intelligence and developing grower engagement platforms including knowledge exchange days and colleague education sessions.
John works across the full range of Produce World Group crops including alliums, roots and potatoes, acting as a key pivot between growers, agronomists, procurement and commercial colleagues, and customers. John’s passion for knowledge and attention to detail is outstanding, as is his commitment to applying practical science on farm.
Group Commercial Director Matt Starbuck says: “We take a total supply chain approach that is built upon anticipating future challenges to make our customers’ brands as resilient as possible. This means continually improving our efficiency and standards with our farms and grower partners, as well as significant investment in consumer insight to deliver relevant points of difference that add value to the categories we work in. The work that John does is essential to every aspect of that approach.”
John is well known in the industry having worked with growers from Kent to Cromarty. He has also served as chairman of the British Carrot Growers Association and the HDC Field Vegetables Panel. After graduating from Aberdeen University, he held a variety of roles in the fresh produce industry before joining the Produce World.
John says: “The role that the modern agronomist plays in a business like Produce World is absolutely essential to developing an understanding of crop intelligence and growing conditions among our customers, but also getting our growers to understand the aspirations of our customers.”
Produce World also picked up a Highly Commended in the Best New Variety: Vegetable/Salad for its Sweet Sprouting Cauliflower which was introduced into Waitrose for the first time in 2015.
Popular in China, the Sweet Sprouting Cauliflower head is less compact and forms smaller florets, while the stems are much longer than traditional types. It has a mild sweet taste with a crunchy texture. It is excellent eaten raw in salads, or used in stir-fries. It can be steamed in minutes and is also a great accompaniment to all meat dishes. It can be roasted or even barbequed, adding to its versatility.
