Post Brexit, few industries are feeling a sense of uncertainty more than farmers, but two young farmers from Colchester, Guy and Emily French, are working hard and with imagination to protect themselves for whatever the future might hold
AGRICULTURE has reached a crossroads with farmers in Essex and across the country facing an uncertain future post-Brexit. Surviving the fall-out and the inevitable reduction, or withdrawal, of Government funding to support the sector relies on farms building resilience by combining their knowledge of farming with sharp business skills. This involves understanding cash flow, diversifying where possible, seizing marketing opportunities and embracing innovation and technology.
This challenge is being embraced by one young couple farming on their own land at Colne Engaine and at rented sites across the county. Guy and Emily French have created a successful and rapidly expanding pumpkin and Christmas tree business, selling to both the public and wholesale, and now have plans to expand further with a family attraction based around a maze cut from a field of maize.
The couple both hail from farming backgrounds, with Guy growing up on a potato and vegetable farm in Essex, and have strong opinions on the direction of food and farming. While at Harper Adams University in 2003, Guy was so outraged with the high prices of vegetables in the supermarkets, he decided to use his experience to grow his own.
This was still the case in 2010 when he met Emily, though he had decided that pumpkins were to be the focus of his efforts due to their overwhelming popularity compared to the other vegetables he was growing. With the pair enthusiastically working together to drive the business forward, Christmas trees were added to the mix and Foxes Farm Produce began to take off.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 2017-Ausgabe von Essex Life.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 2017-Ausgabe von Essex Life.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
The rise of maskne
With the term ‘maskne’ becoming an increasingly common search online and on social media, Krystal Prince explains what it is and how you can control mask-induced acne
The forgotten lady
Charlotte Christie shares the life story of Anne Knight, an Essex pioneer for the abolition of slavery and women’s suffrage who’s achievements have almost been air-brushed from history
Stride out in the Sampfords
This charming, circular winter walk takes you on a tour from the village of Great Sampford to its neighbour, Little Sampford, and back again
MUCH TO TALK ABOUT
As a presenter on Sky Music and the host of two TV talk shows of her own on Gidea Park-based Sky channel Spotlight TV, Hayley Palmer is never short of words. Nicky Adams asks her how she came to be in front of the camera
LIFE and SOUL
Radio 1 broadcaster and producer Charlie Hedges began her career as Britain’s youngest breakfast show host and is now one of the world’s most successful female DJs. Denise Marshall caught up with the Essex-based queen of the air waves
Lest we forget
Remembrance Sunday will have a special poignance this month as 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. Stephen Roberts profiles how much the county of Essex contributed to the war effort and how much it cost
Lakeside Magic
The Lake House, nestled in Mill End on the outskirts of the village of Bradwell on Sea, has been owned by the same family for 60 years and was once a thriving four-buoy water-ski lake.
Keep on running
BBC presenter and director David Whiteley shares his insightful view on stories from across the county of Essex
Cheers!
Starting to get that festive vibe? Why not plan ahead by selecting not only the drinks you want to serve this Christmas, but also ticking off a few presents too?
A doggy day out on… Saffron Walden
Join Ernie, the county’s most famous Westie, as he steps back in time on a trip to this medieval market town
