David Hay, Messrs Charles Hay
David, Chairman of Taygrow, started supplying Taypack with potatoes in 1985, 10 years before the establishment of grower group, Taygrow Produce Ltd, in 1995.  David grows a number of varieties of potatoes, including Maris Piper, King Edward, Saxon, Harmony, Desiree, Romano, Cabaret, Bonnie, Sunrise and Maris Peer.  In addition, he grows organic potatoes, as changing attitudes towards “healthy living” and increased market demand suggest potential longer term growth in organics within the food industry. 

David also grows wheat, winter barley, oil seed rape, spring oats, spring barley and peas on his farm in Perthshire.

A Member of a several agricultural and environmental schemes, his business is LEAF registered (farming and environmental scheme), part of the Rural Stewardship Scheme and is registered with SQC (Scottish Quality Cereals), AP (Assured Produce) and SOPA (Scottish Organic Producers Association).

Aside from managing his farming business, David enjoys curling at local, national and international level.  He competed in the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary as a Member of the Great Britain Team.  He has won European and World Championship titles as a Member of the Scottish National Team and is currently coaching the Great Britain Team in preparation for the 2010 Winter Olympics to be held in Vancouver.

John & Gavin Baillie, D A Baillie & Sons
John, a Director of Taygrow, and his son, Gavin, farm in Perthshire.  They have been growing potatoes for Taypack since 1997.  As environmental issues are a priority, they participate in Farm Assurance, Quality Assurance and Rural Stewardship Schemes.

Angus Bayne, S M Bayne & Co Ltd
Taygrow member since 2003, Angus runs the potato side of the family business, growing varieties such as Cultra and Harmony for Taypack on their farm in Fife.

Harry & Crawford Black, Milton Farmers
Brothers, Harry and Crawford, joined Taygrow in 2003.  They are pictured here with Harry’s son, Alex.  Their farming enterprise in Fife consists of potatoes, cereals, carrots and parsnips.  They also run a waste disposal business covering Fife, Angus and Perthshire.

Bill Bryden, John Bryden (Potatoes) Ltd
Bill is one of a number of growers who joined Taygrow in 2003.  He grows mainly seed potatoes on his farm in Perthshire.

Ian & Steven Caird, Firm of Ian J Caird & Son
Father and son, Ian and Steven, joined Taygrow in 2003.  They farm in Angus and specialise in growing seed crops from which they supply Taypack with tops.

George & Fraser Christie, R & G Christie
George, (on the right) is another founder Member of Taygrow.  He and his son, Fraser, mainly grow Maris Piper and King Edward potatoes for Taypack.  They also grow spring barley, winter wheat, oil seed rape and winter oats.  During the soft fruit season they grow strawberries for major supermarkets on their farm in Tayside.

John Drysdale, Balgonie Estates Ltd
John joined Taygrow in 2003 and, although he supplies Taypack with potatoes, he also grows cereal crops for malting and livestock feed.  His farming operation near Glenrothes in Fife is LEAF registered, combining traditional farming methods with today’s modern technology, allowing him to manage his farm in a professional way and ensuring the highest standards of food production with minimum environmental impact.

David Gammie, Dunbar Farmers
Dunbar Farmers started supplying Taypack with packing potatoes in 1998 and joined Taygrow in 2003.  David and his family farm 630 Ha in an area called “The Howe of the Mearns” which is about 30 miles south of Aberdeen and 100 miles north of Edinburgh.

They grow approximately 70 Ha of potatoes, 60 Ha of swede, 400 Ha of wheat and barley, 40 Ha of peas, 20 Ha of grass and 40 Ha of daffodils for cut flower and dry bulb production.

Dunbar Farmers are Members of Saltire Seed who supply Walkers crisps with seed potatoes and are Members of Grampian Growers who market their daffodils and bulbs.  They are also Members of Assured Produce, Natures Choice, Scotch Quality Cereals and Safe Haven.  They strongly believe in supplying top quality produce with full traceability.

Andrew Graham, J R Graham Ltd
Andrew joined Taygrow in 2003.  He grows potatoes for Taypack and vegetables on his farm in Fife.  He also has a beef finishing unit.

Andy Howie, Jas A Howie Son
Andy joined Taygrow in 2003.  He grows early Marfona, Saxon and Harmony for Taypack on his farm in Fife.

Jim Howie, Messrs J & L Howie
Jim also joined Taygrow in 2003.  He grows Marfona, Harmony, Saxon and King Edward as well as cereals and vegetables on his farm in Fife.  We believe Jim is one of the few producers of cauliflower in Scotland.

Andrew Husband, Adamston Farms
Andrew is a founder Member of Taygrow.  He grows early Marfona and main crop for Taypack as well as cereals and fruit, including blackcurrants for Ribena and blueberries.  He also is a poultry producer.

Ken Lang, Messrs K & B Lang
Ken joined Taygrow in 2003 and is a Director of the group.  He grows approximately 270 acres of potatoes for Taypack in addition to growing wheat and barley and rearing livestock on his farm in Fife.

Ken is a keen winter sportsman and enjoys curling and ski-ing when time allows.

Stanley & William Livingston, S & W Livingston & Co
Stanley has been with Taygrow since 1996.  He and his son, William, farm in Perthshire.  They grow Saxon, Orla and Cultra for Taypack as well as wheat, barley and peas.

Peter Lucas, Peter W D Lucas
Peter has supplied potatoes to Taypack for ten years and joined Taygrow in 2003.  Seed and ware potatoes are the main enterprises on his farm, with Maris Piper, Desiree, Maris Peer and Harmony the main varieties.

John Lyburn, Burnmouth Farms
John is one of the founder Members of Taygrow.  He grows potatoes for Taypack as well as barley, wheat and turnips on his farm in Perthshire.

Neil Morris, Robert Morris & Son Ltd
Neil, pictured with his children Annie and Patrick, joined Taygrow in 1997 and is Director of the group.  He grows a number of varieties of potatoes, including Maris Piper, Harmony, King Edward, Estima, Wilja and Romano on his farm in Perthshire.

Robin Niven, Channel Farming Company
Robin joined Taygrow in 2006, having supplied potatoes to Taypack for number of years prior to joining the group.  In addition to farming, Robin and his wife, Emma, set up Loch Leven’s Larder, near Kinross, which boasts a Coffee Shop and Gift Shop.  Loch Leven’s Larder is open seven days a week and sells home grown fruit and vegetables and other locally sourced products. 

Visit their website:
www.lochlevenslarder.com

Bill & Graham Reid, Robert Reid & Sons
The Reid family have been Members of Taygrow since 2005, supplying main crop potatoes to Taypack.  They have been growing potatoes for five generations at Gourdie Farm, since 1903.  Gourdie is an arable farm growing winter barley, winter oilseed rape, spring barley, winter wheat and carrots.  They also manage two miles of double bank salmon fishing at Coupar Grange.  Family interests include fishing, shooting, golf, curling and rallying.

David Robertson (Snr), D Y Petrie & Sons
David is another founder Member and Director of Taygrow.  A family run business, they provide Taypack with potatoes from their LEAF certified farm, encouraging efficiency, transparency and high standards throughout the food and farming industry.  LEAF farmers produce high quality produce under sustainable conditions while following integrated farming practise.

Graham Shaw, Robert D Shaw & Partners
Graham has been a Member of Taygrow since 1995.  He provides Taypack with main crop from his farm in Perthshire.

Richard Stephen, Barra Farming Company
Richard joined Taygrow in March 2008.  The most northerly grower in the group, Richard grows salad crops, such as Maris Peer and Charlotte, for Taypack on his farm in Aberdeenshire.

Rob Whiteford, R Whiteford & Son
Rob joined the group in 2003 and is currently a Director of Taygrow.  He grows Maris Piper, Harmony and Saxon for Taypack on his farm in Fife.

Stewart and Michael Wilson
Stewart (on the right) has been a Member of Taygrow since 1995.  He and his son, Michael, mainly grow Saxon and Harmony for Taypack, although their main business is growing wheat, barley and oil seed rape on their farm in Perthshire.