THIS MONTH saw three new additions to the AHDB Potatoes board, including Aberdeenshire-based grower Jim Cargill.

Alongside Somerset-based grower Chris Wilson, and independent board member Alison Levett, Mr Cargill took up his new position as of April 1, in an appointment that will last for three years.

Second generation farmer Mr Cargill is based at Coldstream Farm, where he produces seed potatoes, cereals and daffodil bulbs. As well as growing potato varieties Cara, Atlantic and Burren for export, he also supplies the domestic market with Gemson and Markies. Jim markets his seed through Grampian Growers, where he has also been a longstanding member of their board.

Currently at the helm of AHDB’s Strategic Potato Farm South West, Mr Wilson runs a 1000 hectare estate at Dillington Farm, Somerset. A graduate of the University of Oxford, Chris has been an estate manager at Dillington for most of his career, having started out as farm manager in West Sussex. He holds a number of board and committee roles, including chairman of the Branston Potato Producer Group and is a member of the Tesco Sustainable Farming Group potato panel.

Ms Levett has built up an impressive career in the food and drink industry, including 17 years experience in leadership positions for both corporate and private equity-backed firms, such as UK and Ireland MD for Campbell’s Grocery Products and UK and Ireland MD for Allied Domecq.

The new board members replace those who reached the end of their tenure on March 31 – Herefordshire grower Bill Quan; Cygnet Potato Breeders chief executive Alistair Redpath, and Cornwall-based grower Reuben Collins.