Summer Harvest cold pressed oil which comes from Ferneyfold Farm, in Madderty, Perthshire, is a diversification project taken on by Mark Bush when he came to Scotland in 2007, to live with his new wife Margaret Cameron, whose family have been farming at Ferneyfold for more than 50 years.

Mark’s father-in-law, David Cameron, has been growing rapeseed on the farm for 27 years, and with his experience and knowledge of the seed, and Mark’s business background, and need for a new project after giving up his career as an IT consultant in London, it seemed like the perfect combination of skills to try pressing their own rapeseed oil, as both men didn’t want to change anything on the farm, but wanted to use the opportunities that were already there.

“I am a real enthusiastic cook, and when I came to Scotland I knew that I wanted to do something in the food industry, that I would be passionate about, which I never was about IT, initially I was working on the farm, taking potatoes to the farmers markets etc, we really started to look into the viability of the oil business early 2008. I started to do market research to see how to get started, and I came across Alan Brewis in Northumberland.

“There is nothing about pressing that Alan Brewis doesn’t know, he is the guru, and he taught us everything we needed to know, he also supplies all the equipment for pressing,” says Mark.

“By May 2008 we decided to do a pilot and produced our first batch of oil, and then the hard work began when we started knocking on doors, going round local delis, going to the farmers markets, restaurants, farm shops and explaining what the health benefits of the oil were and talking about traceability, to see whether this was going to be a viable option.

“It became apparent quite quickly that there was a market for the oil, and by August 2008 we started to produce it on quite a large scale. We didn’t have presses so we were having all the rapeseed pressed down at Alan’s place in Northumberland. Which involved having to get the seed down there and the oil back again, so we wanted to have our own presses here at the farm.”

Mark applied for a SRDP grant, and after a delay the funds have come through and the presses were in the process of being built up as Mark was speaking to The Scottish Farmer. He is confident that having their own presses will give them a better margin, and also allow them to use the remaining seed pulp from the process as rapemeal to feed along with a supplement to the farm’s livestock.

“The public is now just waking up to cold pressed oil, now that we are attending more food events, like the BBC Good Food Show etc, we find that our market awareness is growing, people come along and say... “I saw you at...”, and it starts a conversation, which is ideal, as it allows us to promote the cooking and health benefits of the oil face to face.”

Summer Harvest prides itself on being a home-grown Scottish product and are trying to keep their expansion plans to the local area at the moment. The family business, which is run mostly by Mark, with father-in-law David doing all the growing, mother in law helping with the bottling and packaging, and wife Margaret doing all the marketing, and press releases, as well as her own job which is as a physio for the GB winter Olympic team, it is all hands on deck when things get busy.

“We looked into buying a delivery van, but have decided to use a distribution company called ‘The Cress Company’, which has given us a wider range of contacts. We are in the process of introducing four dressings in collaboration with Dalchonzie Fruit Farm, and Andrew Hammer of Wild Thyme, and I hope to find a Scottish chilli grower for use in our chilli infused oil,” adds Mark.

Always trying to promote and support cold pressers, Mark is a member of the British Association of Cold Pressed Oil Producers , which aims to protect and promote the quality of home grown premium oil, whilst also representing British farmers producing cold pressed oils including rapeseed, hemp, flax, strawberry seed, borage and other oils. These oils can be used for culinary and healthcare purposes. At the moment there are 12 members, Ola oils are members as well.

“Here on the farm we have worked hard to produce the best quality oil we can, using a secret variety which grows particularly well in the climate in Central Scotland. It has been hard work, but I always strongly recommend to farmers that they should be trying to add value to whatever they produce on the farm before it leaves the farm door.

“Whether it is cattle, pigs, anything, the consumers of today want quality products and I am sure it is not a trend, this new awareness is here to stay. Use what you have already, which allows you to cut down on the risks involved, as you already know the market, you have got to love what you are doing to do it well.

“It is great to be acknowledged for the work that you do, and we were delighted to be given awards from Scotland Food and Drink for both healthy option product and best retailers in our first year of trading.”

“I think this is was the right option for us, it is hard work, but very rewarding when you get to see you regulars at markets, events or when delivering to their business.”

www.summerharvestoils.co.uk