ONE of the best-known names in the Scottish potato growing industry has been recognised by his peers by winning the British Potato Industry Award.

Aberdeenshire's Jim Cruickshank, one of the best respected seed producers in the UK, is this year’s winner of the prestigious award, which is organised by AHDB Potatoes.

Presented to individuals for their outstanding contribution to the industry, he is the 20th winner of the honour announced at this year’s Seed Industry Event, in St Andrews, on Thursday.

AHDB's potatoes strategy director, Rob Clayton, said

no one in the sector would be surprised about this year’s winner: “I expect the only surprising thing is that it didn’t happen sooner. Jim Cruickshank is held in extremely high regard by all of his colleagues in the potato industry, both for his skills as a farmer and his efforts to safeguard the sector through work with industry bodies and researchers on potato health and quality.”

Brought up on a mixed farm in Aberdeenshire, he initially took a rather different path into the industry, completing a degree in maths before having change of heart and returning to University of Aberdeen to study agriculture.

After he graduated in 1977, he purchased a 150-acre farm, Meikle Wartle, in Aberdeenshire, with 30 acres dedicated to seed potatoes. After a few years that increased to 70 acres and, since the 1990s, he has been growing 250-300 acres of early generation seed.

He produces seed for further multiplication by other commercial producers and believes it’s his relationship with his customers which is key to his success. He said: “I have always tried to listen to my customers, and be really open with them, because if we understand each other’s requirements and difficulties we can work far better together.

!If our customers aren’t profitable, then we won’t be either, so it makes sense to ensure they get what they need from us. That is one thing I have learned from my time sitting on various industry bodies ... I have really developed my understanding of the whole supply chain, which is crucial as just one weak link can make everyone else vulnerable.”

Over the course of his career, he has been vice-chairman of the then Potato Marketing Board, board member of Aberdeen and Northern Marts and chairman of the Pre-Basic Growers Association. He has also been closely involved with the industry’s research agenda over the last four decades, with a particular focus on crop health.

“I’ve always said the three most important things for a seed potato grower are health, health and health. It is vital to maintaining the quality of our product which is why I have worked with different groups to identify problem areas and ways of keeping disease levels down,” he said.

For Bill Rennie, secretary of the Pre Basic Growers Association, Jim’s dedication to research is one of the many reason he is ideal candidate for the industry award. He says: “Jim is an outstanding farmer, and an innovative one. He studies the latest research and development and applies it to his own farm, and he has always been willing to share his knowledge with other growers.”

His eldest daughter, Sarah, also originally pursued a different career path, spending 14 years as an oboeist, but she too has been won over by the potato world and has joined the family business.